It cant be forgotten in contrast of four more years of dictatorship or longer, I think it can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
59
What people forget is where we are in our national history. The moral imperative is to beat Trump. Have you forgotten about the nearly constant shootings of blacks stopped by cops in the last year of the Obama administration? Was there anything of this order in New York? Why don't you blame the governor's of these states or the majors for letting that happen? Get this through your thick head: Bloomberg is the only candidate who is willing to stand up to the NRA and guns are an intractable problem, which makes stop and frisk look like a game of hide and seek. Let's not confuse church bombings, police brutality and shootings and white nationalists taking over Charlottesville with a questionable policy which has now been recognized as such. We have bigger fish to fry!
63
@Charles Mcray Blow, I guess that it may take a racist to see one in someone else. That is how I take your "Michael Ruben Bloomberg", which reminded me of those spelling out the name of our previous President as Barack Hussein Obama.
Bloomberg's comments may not have been your preferred taste of political correctness, but they were true nevertheless. I prefer a doctor who treats the causes of a disease to the one that treats only the symptoms. And I have the same preference for President.
For sure historical racism and socio-economic circumstances are part of what has caused for criminals to come more likely from minority communities, but the reality is there nevertheless.
Deal with it rather than criticizing those that speak frankly.
53
Charles, today's column is almost identical to a column you wrote last month about how you would "never have anything to do with anyone who voted for Bloomberg, never". Michael Bloomberg has apologized for the "stop & frisk" policy" that you cannot seem to get beyond. Grow up & move on, Charles. Your continuing to harp on this one issue of disqualification is grossly myopic. You aren't going to vote for Bloomberg; we got it in your previous Bloomberg hate column. I couldn't care less. My vote will cancel your vote, at any rate. Bloomberg is the only person who can possibly defeat Trump in November, & that's what matters to me.
50
The point here is simple. There are a lot of reasons important black voters wont show up for Bloomberg. Duh. Do we want to lose again?
23
Anyone who looks at the rate of violent crime among young black men will find Mr. Blow's outrage hard to sympathize with. Let him examine other cities where Mr. Bloomberg has and had no authority and see who's killing whom.
29
From Mr. Blow’s Nov. 10 article:
“Let me plant the stake now: No black person — or Hispanic person or ally of people of color — should ever even CONSIDER voting for Michael Bloomberg in the primary.”
“Anyone who would support Bloomberg is complicit in his terror campaign...”
“If you support Bloomberg, I want nothing to do with you. Nothing!”
Nobody can erase the words they may have used in the past, or undo the pain they may have caused by misguided policies. One can apologize, and Bloomberg has publicly done that more than once in a number of venues.
Nothing approaches the scale of what’s at stake in this election. We may defeat Trump but it will take an all-out effort. I’m not counting anyone out in that fight — friend or foe.
25
Mike'll get it done. He'll nest his company even tighter into the webwork that is NYC's Federal interfaces and emerge from the Presidency with the power to subtly nudge tax codes into higher margins for information technologies. Charles Blow is playing checkers. Mike has always played three dimensional chess.
16
Here in St. Louis Jimmy Edwards (African American) Director of Public Safety for the city and a former circuit judge is the only courageous official to address the black-on-black crime. At a Martin Luther King Day in 2017 NPR reported his comments this way:
"During his address at the Martin Luther King Day event Edwards said all but one of the city’s 205 murder victims in 2017 were black and all the people caught and accused of those crimes were also black."
Judge Edwards was lambasted to no end never mind his 25 years as a judge and never mind that he is African American.
When will we face up to these problems??
28
All these cry babies whining about stop and frisk ought to try living above 96 street--especially on a drug infested block, where the criminals out number law abiding citizens like me!
I was stopped before when police thought I was buying drugs. After finding no drugs or related paraphernalia on me, they apologized and sent me on my way. Nothing wrong with that!
32
Utter nonsense. Every institution from the National Institutes for Health to the FBI confirm that blacks and Hispanics commit and are victims of over 90 percent of NYC homicides. Why is that fact omitted from these screeds accusing Bloomberg of racism? He was trying to save black and brown lives, and he succeeded. Nail him on stop and frisk - fine. But don’t impugn his motive. He’s done more to stop gun violence than anyone else in this country. Don’t be a Trumpist. Facts matter.
46
Despite being an ardent fan of Charles Blow and accepting his honest horror at Bloomberg's 'stop and frisk' policies, I'm going to vote for Bloomberg for all the positive reasons he is likely to be a good president.
The first one is that he has the best chance of beating our racist, criminally dishonest, incompetent and lawless president. He will stand up to the bully.
He has the stature and strength to return the presidency to its traditional place of honour and to regain the respect of the world community. And he is willing to accept and apologize for his past errors.
36
Mr. Blow,
People change.
Obama was anti-gay marriage on his first term but moved on to pro on his last term.
Unless the Obama that you still remember today was the anti-gay president?
28
Democrats already have a 'Guilty until Proven Innocent' problem and Bloomberg just puts it on Steroids. It is Innocent until Proven Guilty in America and Bloomberg forgot that. That makes him ineligible for the Oval Office.
5
Stop and think!
This one error and you count out all the amazing things Bloomberg has done? Founder of Everytown for Gun Safety, supported Planned Parenthood with 250k when the 3-day org pulled their funding, early supporter of gay rights and climate change action, and on and on.
He’s got the cred and cash to get rid of the cancer on the presidency. Stop and look at the big picture!
23
Charles, are you really quoting Pat Lynch as the voice of reason when it comes to policing in minority neighborhoods? He who found absolutely wrong in the behavior of NYPD officers in the death of Eric Garner? Pat Lynch has gone out of his way to disrespect NYC’s mayors while head of the PBA so I think you may want to consider another expert to quote.
8
Charles, as to your headline: Judging by reader’s comments every time Bloomberg is brought up in the press, it’s not so much his racist policy can be forgotten, but it certainly can be ignored.
5
Bloomberg is Trump with better surface manners.
9
Excellent column. This is a wonderful retort to the piece from yesterday written by Blow's colleague Tom Friedman. Friedman should take note.
8
As a mostly democrat driven publication, the New York Times is basically shooting itself in the foot with these articles. We have read more than once about this issue and that was enough. There are only 1 or 2 democratic candidates that can beat Trump in the election and Bloomberg is one of them. I imagine Trump salivating when reading this...
27
Before Stop and frisk over 2,000 murders, mostly minorities. Bloombergs last year as mayor, 330 murders. If Bloomberg proved one thing, it's that stop and frisk works. It makes cities safer, especially the areas where minorities live. What is more racist, letting minorities gun each other down, or trying to stop it?
20
Thank you. Some refreshing sense coming out of NYT regarding the latest latecomer Bloomberg. Character being everything, this man's character can't hold a candle to the fine characters of the top 4 democratic finishers in Tuesdays's NH primary.
In Dylan's words: (to the pro-Bloomberger media pundits):
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen...
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall…
And don't criticize
What you can't understand...
Your old road is rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'
6
Yes and the Mayor apologized several times.
Just know one thing, people makes mistakes and so many regret what they have done or have said in their lifetime.
trump is the most racist President ever and is looting the Country right and left and is a liar demagogue.
At this point Michael Bloomberg is our only hope.
Yes, I like Mayor Pete, but is the Country ready for a gay President ? We are far behind.
Biden is losing his ground and remember, he never apologized to Ms. Anita Hill.
11
Hopefully Democrats will not go down this rabbit hole to hand 45 another 4 years or an indefinite term. Also traditional animosity between "moderates" or "centrists" (which really means corporatists at best) and "progressives" (which actually looks more pragmatic, even though this camp has it's fair share of idiots as well, in the Bernie or bust cult, which shares at least some responsibility for the current WH occupant.
3
Friends of Trump would be wrong. He specifically would not rent to blacks. Is that just transactional?
4
The fact that our presidential dictator is afraid of confronting Mike B is reason enough for me to vote for Bloomberg, despite his past flaws in policy judgement. Not a perfect man but better than the IMPEACHED weakling who apologizes for NOTHING, as in 'nothing to see here', let's move along... WE THE PEOPLE know there's plenty to see. VOTE our cowardly 'leader' in-chief OUT, Dems. As the cliche states, 'this is our chance'.
9
Trump has shown ample evidence of being a Racist & unlike Mike's stint at NYC, Trump has the entire US & whole world to exercise his White Nationalist agenda.
Trump is mentally & physically unsound. At his recent NJ rally, he had to hold onto his podium. Fox stopped filming him when he referred to Democrats as :"Criminaluks, luks."
Trump is a corrupt fraud. His approach to international relations is a disaster & he'll land us in a war yet.
Since his impeachment Trump is even more unhinged showing strong signs that he has no intention of ever leaving office. He's cutting all the former 3rd rails of SS, Medicare, federal pensions, Medicaid. He's openly taking over our legal system. We don't live in a perfect world & if my choice is Mike or Donald, there's no doubt that I'll take the patriotic choice & Pick Mike. We had a White Nationalist dictator in Nazi Germany & that didn't end well for millions.
We used to marvel that could not happen here. But its unrolling before our eyes.
12
The article starts with "let's state some facts" and then goes on to provide language that is definitely not fact. The below words and phrases are unsupported and/or clearly exaggerated:
calling police "strange men with guns"
stop and frisk caused "a vast expanse of human psychological wreckage"
saying Bloomberg said "the only way to get the guns out of the kids’ hands was to throw the kids against a wall" when the quotation provided never used the word "only"
"minority boys were being hunted"
"Their neighborhoods were experiencing an occupation"
Stop-and-frisk amounted to "apartheid"
Bloomberg turned the police into "racist thugs"
This article doesn't inform nearly as much as it inflames. In using language that is clearly false - stating that NYC was under apartheid, for example - it's hard to take Mr. Blow seriously.
17
I'm routing for Amy personally, but this eating every Democrat who can beat Trump alive is the fastest way to re-elect him. What is wrong with the Times???!!!! Must you skewer literally every Democrat???!!! I might as well get a subscription to the NY Post at this rate.
Bloomberg is far from a perfect candidate, and he's not known for his empathy - towards anyone, period, but he could take down Trump. Of course, if we re-hash a policy he's already owned and apologized for, and then selectively edit his speeches to make him sound even more callous, taking out Trump becomes a LOT harder. We need people who to want to vote. Painting every Democrat as corrupt, racist, old and decrepit, young and inept, etc. isn't exactly a winning formula.
Ironically, I work in Harlem where my clients were probably a lot more personally affected by stop and frisk than most NYT columnists. Several were stopped and frisked, repeatedly, or their kids were. Most of them are pro-Bloomberg believe it or not. They like that he's so anti-gun, and that he expanded healthcare. Maybe we could talk about that?
18
If Bloomberg is the Democratic nominee, any guess on minority turnout? Actually, minorities might turn out ........ and vote for Trump!
1
Well, Mr. Blow, perhaps a Hobson's choice:
Better to vote Bloomberg (for what he appears to be now)? Or allow Trump (and his enablers) another term?
3
I hear you...so who should we support ?!?!
1
Well, there is always therapy, Mr. Blow. If historic context isn't enough--the majority of the victims of gun violence in NYC at that time were black; Bloomberg was under constant criticism then by (largely self-appointed) representatives of the black community, including opinion columnists in the NYT, who took up the cause of "black-on-nblack-violence." Back then, the outrage was that Bloomberg was racist for not doing enough about the casualty rates in minority neighborhoods.
Unlike you, I was there. I remember how it was before Bloomberg became Mayor, and I know that NYC is a much, much safer and better place to live for more people, particularly black people, than it has ever been. My advice? free your mind. Take a long, safe walk in the city.
15
Not sure why Mr. Blow is so offended by the idea of placing police officers in areas with high crime rates. Perhaps not politically correct, but just plain common sense. The fact is crime fell in NYC, more guns were taken off the streets and neighborhoods became safer under Bloomberg's leadership. Bloomberg is the strongest candidate the Dems can put up against Trump, and Mr. Blow's negative and misleading piece only helps Trump. I appreciate the different viewpoints of the Times' op-ed writers, but Mr. Blow has become an irrelevant read.
15
OK Charles you tell me how many white folks were living in Brownsville in 2002. The kindly outline precisely how you would advise the police to make sure that they stop a sufficient number of white people to make your ratio of stops conform to your requirements.
Thanks.
8
Bloomberg is not going to effect a racist agenda as President of the USA, period. Donald Trump is - and will - continue to escalate his race war from the WH, through the Justice Department and his proxies on the ground as well.
Was Bloomberg stupid and thoughtless in pushing Stop and Frisk? Absolutely. But conflating his disastrous mistake with ousting the dictator in waiting on Pennsylvania Avenue is almost as dumb.
This flock of wannabe Democratic presidential candidates will become fodder for the Trump disinformation mill. Losing is not an option folks. I'll hold my nose and vote for the only candidate who won't be intimidated, outflanked or run over. Go Mike!
7
With 5% of humanity America has 25% of the world's prisoners.
And while only 13% of Americans are black African American like Ben Carson, Will Hurd, Tim Scott and Clarence Thomas about 40% of America's prisoners are black African American.
Because blacks are persecuted for acting like white people do without any criminal justice consequences.
Prison is the carefully carved colored exception to the 13th Amendment's abolition of slavery and involuntary servitude.
See ' The New Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness' Michelle Alexander; ' 13th' Ava DuVernay
8
he would make a great President
10
Bloomberg didn't start "Stop & Frisk"--
Guliani did that when he was mayor.
Bloomberg eventually stopped it,
though he now says he should have done it sooner. This is true.
But a great many Dem. New Yorkers though "stop & frisk" stopped crime because it gave police a chance to take guns away from young men.
At the same time, it's true that police were far more likley to "stop & frisk"
young black men than young white men.
Bloomberg was smart enough to realize that "stop & frisk" was getting way out of control. That's why he stopped it.
As for the "Central Park Five" , they were
arrested & rail-roaded long before Bloomberg took office.
It was Trump who took out full-page newspaper ads demanding that those young boys be Executed!
Who would you rather have as President,
Bloomberg or Trump?
Sanders can't beat Trump.
But the Sanders people are doing their
best to tear down Joe Biden (the candidate most favored by black Americans._
The Berniacs may succeed in pushing
Biden out of the race.
But Bernie Can't Beat Trump.Too far left for most white Democrats. And Bernie will never win support from blacks.
Bloomberg or Biden (my 1st choice)
could beat Trump.
If you want Trump Out of the WH,
Bloomberg is Our Back-Up CSoandidate.
A Bloomberg/Harris ticket could be
powerful.
6
Thank you, Charles. But the innocent victims of stop and frisk exceed 90%. If only 1% had guns and only an additional 1% had drugs, then 98% were innocent collateral damage. I come from the South. Was Sherman's scorched earth policy effective? It certainly was. but I was raised with hatred for him and Yankee soldiers in the 1940s and 50s. We were told to forgive and forget, but our answer was, "Hell no!" What does that say about the chances of the black and latino community turning out enthusiastically to vote for Bloomberg? Will they forgive and forget? Or will they just stay home?
Michael Bloomberg words,practices and policies are those of a racist. Every truthful American history books tell us that. As an ADOS Black man I know he's racist and I know many people who support him are just as racist as he is.
3
I look forward to and always read your column and mostly always agree with you and smile. Todays column frightened me. I will vote for anyone to replace trump but your column will turn off so many of the black and brown community that we need to defeat him. I think the columns this week by Leonhardt and Friedman were the way to go. Trump will destroy us if we don’t win and we need all of us to to get out and vote for ANY Democrat even if you hate him. Nobody can be hated more than trump. Do you ever respond to these. Arlene Bondy. [email protected]
7
Charles...you're arguing your way into a second term for Trump!
15
In World War II, the U.S. allied itself with Stalin to defeat Hitler. Stalin was one of the greatest evil-doers in history, yet you'd have to look hard to find someone that would say this alliance was a mistake for the U.S. To me, the threat of Trump unchecked if he wins makes supporting the Democrat with the most resources a question that shouldn't require a moment's thought.
10
I wish police had stopped and frisked the killers of the Barnard student in Morningside Park in 2019.
12
"If Democrats cast aside all of these candidates in favor of Bloomberg and his wealth, I fear they will be making it harder to defeat Trump in November."
No, Mr Blow, it's actually left-wing people like you, who devote all of their energy to attack people on their team, who are making it much harder to defeat Trump.
Not mentioning the vaguely antisemitic comments that Bloomberg is buying an election with his wealth...
Mr Blow, your clear preference for a Trump re-election rather than having Bloomberg as president is nothing short of sickening.
14
Bloomberg’s view that most of the crime was committed by blacks and hispanics was based on statistics from the police dept. He wasn’t just making a racist assumption. https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/analysis_and_planning/enforcement_report_year_end_2014.pdf
12
I am for ANYBODY who can rid us of Trump.
6
I remember another Democrat who helped pass the 'three strikes your out' crime bill that targeted black youths and the drugs they used while lessening the penalties for the drugs whites used. Along with supporting privatized prisons he helped incarcerate the largest percentage of black young men in the history of our country. His name is Bill Clinton and he is still revered by many in our Party. At least Bloomberg admitted that he was wrong. That's a first step. I think African Americans would fare much better under a Bloomberg Presidency then they did under our first 'supposed' black President, Bill Clinton and maybe even under the first real black President, Barack Obama of whom one black commentator recently said, "We finally put a black man in the
White House and it cost us our houses." No one is pure but Bloomberg was overall a great mayor even with this dark stain on his record.
5
Man, with the current disaster unfolding in the USA, opinion pieces like this, which seem designed to turn minority (and other) voters away from the one candidate who has real odds of beating the incumbent, are NOT HELPFUL. I get it, but if you make Bloomberg into a racist, hatable figure, you'll help make the real racist in the WH a two-termer. Think about that.
20
People do change!
9
It would appear the astrotrufing has begun if full.
Thousands of new names and with thousands of recommends in the first hours of the Op-Ed.
Be aware fellow readers.
The comment section is being gamed by a Republican oligarch.
Critical thinking folks.
We saw the Koch Bro's game the system with the Tea Party fiasco. It would appear it's the Dems turn to be played. Once again our Republic is being bought; and willingly sold by conservadems.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/final-proof-the-tea-party_b_4136722
https://thinkprogress.org/astroturf-in-action-right-wing-billionaire-david-koch-pays-for-40-buses-to-haul-in-protesters-518e8aed42f5/
5
As I have pointed before, Bloomberg had his issues with race. The matter of ending Redlings as the cause of the 2008 financial meltdown, the stubborn mess in dealing honestly with the Central Park 5 matter, or the over burdening in some black neighborhoods of the excesses of the stop and frisk fiasco, he is certainly no Judah P. Benjamin type politiciian:https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/judah-p-benjamin-and-the-jewish-goal-of-whiteness-in-the-antebellum-south/.
I believe he is contrite and deserves careful consideration. I lived in NYC during the crime troubles and it was an awful period. You can't overlook that reality then. It does not justify these irregular actions but something had to be done. PERIOD.
3
As I have pointed before, Bloomberg had his issues with race. The matter of ending Redlings as the cause of the 2008 financial meltdown, the stubborn mess in dealing honestly with the Central Park 5 matter, or the over burdening in some black neighborhoods of the excesses of the stop and frisk fiasco, he is certainly no Judah P. Benjamin type politiciian:https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/judah-p-benjamin-and-the-jewish-goal-of-whiteness-in-the-antebellum-south/.
I believe he is contrite and deserves careful consideration. I lived in NYC during the crime troubles and it was an awful period. You can't overlook that reality then. It does not justify these irregular actions but something had to be done. PERIOD.
Can’t see the forest for the trees, eh Charles? Unbelievable how much time you have devoted to denouncing Trump the last three years, only to continually try to tear down one of the best shots at defeating him. You are a broken record and totally self-defeating.
13
Pointing out that the vast majority of the players in the NBA are black is not racist - it’s a fact. Likewise, pointing out that the vast majority of criminals and crime victims are minorities is not racist - its a fact. Perhaps how you describe it might be insensitive. That does not change the facts.
7
Would Charles M. Blow care to consider a simple fact?
Stop and frisk took about 1000 illegal guns off the streets of NY City. That's a hard number. It probably kept at least twice that number of guns off the streets simply for fear of getting caught. But let's move on.
Since most black crime is black on black, the question then arises: How many black lives did stop and frisk save? One, 10, 100, a 1000? How many kids are alive and unharmed today because they weren't caught in gang cross fire? 1, 10, a 1000?
How many lives, how many black lives, Charles M. Blow did Mike Bloomberg save?
12
MY FEAR ABOUT BLOOMBERG Is that he will pull a "Play-It-Again-Mike" stunt on racial profiling. True, Trump's Crimes Against Humanity (for which he is being given a total pass by the press, both illiberal and liberal), are going to be adjudged by future generations as evil of the sort of Nazi Germany's concentration camps. I don't see Bloomberg as continuing such terroristic tactics against innocent people. Neither do I see him coming out with clear, bold statements about Trump's crimes against humanity. Were Mike to start making such statements in his campaign ads, I'd accept that as a first step that he would not repeat his egregiously racist tactics from NYC, as president. Meanwhile, the Democrats are stuck with an existential need to find Anyone But Trump for this year's presidential elections!
1
America's been bullied back into believing that a wealthy white man is the only real option for president.
4
Charles, I guess you want four more years of Trump.
5
I was born and raised in NYC. Make no mistake about it, Bloomberg was by far the best Mayor of my lifetime.
The writer here is predudiced, he hates Bloomberg.
As far as stop and frisk goes, the plain, simple undisputed truth is
Blacks in NYC were disproportionately arrested because they were disproportionately doing the shootings.
10
I think we need to put things in perspective. Just read what Trump has said about stop and frisk recently. Night and day difference. Once again, it's democrats attacking the people on their side. Focus people.
https://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/president-trump-stop-and-frisk-both-unconstitutional-and
This is why Trump deleted his tweet within minutes of posting it calling Bloomberg a total racist.
1
Oh for crying out loud, Mr. Blow--you're handing the election to Trump with your high-fallutin' principles that won't do us any good with Sanders or Klobucher or Butigieg as our nominee. Oh, wait, I get it, you want GEORGE MCGOVERN as our nominee!
6
This piece may very well help convert a lot of Trump supporters into being Bloomberg supporters.
"Wow, he did all that? That's a lot tougher than Trump, let's vote for Bloomberg!"
Whoops!.. well wait a sec... is that a bad thing? If the choice was between Trump and Bloomberg, knowing what we know, who would you pick?
And the Notorious Barack Obama and Eric Holder, whom I both respect and admire, both sat and watched stop and frisk happen all over the country. Charles please use your valuable space to lift up our candidates instead of giving strength to the other side.
3
All other good arguments stated here in the article and comment section against Bloomberg aside for a moment, can his current platform be taken seriously?
https://www.mikebloomberg.com/policies/economic-justice?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7925hP_O5wIVDJSzCh2dggSfEAAYASAAEgKgzfD_BwE
You comments welcome!
To anyone thinking about adding another “Get Over Stop-and-Frisk” comment here, consider how much that reeks of white privilege.
2
There are at least 3 political parties. Gop progressives and liberals and the later are so scared they will read this and hold their nose and vote for Mike.....
I gave up 6 months of work for Obama and I'm halfway there....Bernie cant bring the Senate
were making deals with devils here - we have to
Charles Blow has repeatedly said he would never vote for Michael Bloomberg . He has nearly forbidden to his readers to vote for Michael Bloomberg . What he has never said is that he would never vote for trump . It might be nice if he came out with an indication of whom he would vote for .
His hatred of Mr. Bloomberg prevents him from ever acknowledging that, except for the disastrous unexpected consequences of the stop and frisk policy - which did not originate with Michael Bloomberg - Bloomberg contributed hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money to causes close to Charles Blow's heart .
I am loathe to say this but, outside of New York City, stop and frisk is a non issue . People are only aware of it because of press coverage and op-eds like this one , which is basically an angrier and more unhinged rehash of Charles' previous columns .
Michael Bloomberg is not perfect . This is not front page news .
3
The last thing this country needs is another self-centered, spoiled, out of touch, rich white man as President.
6
You can't sugar coat crime with political correctness. I live in Seattle where Blacks are nine percent of the population. They commit 80 percent of the homicides and normally the homicides are black on black. The corner of Third and Pine in downtown Seattle has been notorious for shootings and mayhem for over 40 years. Gang members flagrantly sell their drugs there and brazenly even wear gang colors with obnoxious diamond stud earrings. It would be a no-brainer to stop and frisk these people but it has not been done because Seattle always toes the politically correct line. Recently there was a shooting at rush hour in which seven people were wounded and one died in the cross-fire between rival gang members. The victim was an innocent passerby and she was white. A tremendous furor has ensued. The suspects, three of them, had over 70 arrests among them before the shooting. Somehow the prosecutors dropped the ball--although the police continued to arrest these people. The long and the short of this is that stop and frisk might have prevented this mass shooting were it implemented in downtown Seattle. However, it's unlikely to happen with a lesbian mayor and a black female police chief, because political correctness is the tie that binds.
4
It is a sad day to read Americans saying that they would like one wealthy racist person to replace another wealthy racist person in the White House. Do the principles found in the US Constitution mean anything to the American people?
4
Sorry, but someone who thought it ok to grab young African-American men merely walking to school or work en masse, throw them against the wall and frisk them cannot be the Presidential Candidate of the Democratic Party. Just picture a young Barack Obama in Bloomberg's New York.
2
The choice this November is not going to be between Trump, on the one hand, and a paragon of political and moral courage, on the other. The Democratic candidate will be a flawed human being, as we are all flawed human beings. Much like Maureen Dowd's never-ending diatribes against Hillary Clinton in the years leading up to the 2016 election, Mr. Blow's columns and others like them will contribute mightily to a Trump election victory. Come November, the election of one candidate will mean enforcement of clean air and water regulations, enforcement of voting rights, defense of reproductive freedom, respect for church/state separation, protection and expansion of health care coverage, appointment of judges who care about such things -- and above all, respect for the rule of law. The election of the other candidate will mean just the opposite. Whose side are you on, Mr. Blow? Are you going to tear down every candidate who does not achieve 100% on your litmus tests?
7
Let's eliminate from consideration any Democratic candidate who has made mistakes at one point or another in their career.
That leaves us with Trump, who wouldn't care if extremist white nationalists shot and killed groups of immigrants or black men, Muslims or peaceful protestors, or newspaper reporters.
You have to decide, Mr. Blow.
11
Hear you. But you want Trump? Bigger racist than Bloomberg. Not the time for an article like this. Let him win, THEN hold his feet to the fire.
4
Mr. Blow -- agree or disagree?
“Ninety-five percent of your murders — murderers and murder victims — fit one M.O.,” Bloomberg said. “You can just take the description, Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops. They are male, minorities, 16 to 25. That’s true in New York. That’s true in virtually every city.”
6
Alot is revealed about Trump haters when they look to the racist Bloomberg to save them from another four years of Trump. Black and Hispanic communities can go to "heck" as long as Trump is defeated. Sadly, in the eyes of Republicans AND democrats, Black and Hispanic lives DONT matter.!
It seems to me that only the pundits think stop and frisk disqualifies Bloomberg. Regular black people just want to beat Trump. It's showing up in the polls and endorsements. It's Just like how his friendship with Netanyahu bugs me, and it pales with the opportunity to beat Trump.
I voted for Bloomberg by mail in FL today.
3
Thank you, Mr. Blow.
You are entering into the same club Maureen Dowd is in. Ms. Dowd repeatedly went after Hillary Clinton, and contributed to Trump being in the White House, and now you are going to give Trump another 4 years.
Thanks.
4
RBG is not going to last another 4 years.
6
Somethings are non-negotiable. As a Black American, this a non-negotiable for me. I will not vote for Bloomberg because of his abuses of power as mayor and I am advising everyone I can to do the same.
(Wall Streeters openly and freely smoking weed with NYPD and other passerbys getting a contact high; while little brothers and sisters uptown getting thrown spread eagle down to the ground just because they were born Black and brown.)
Despite what the former mayor believes, we do not need Bloomberg to rescue us from the power-abuser currently occupying the White House. People hold fast to your values and remember and retain your non-negotiables. We shall prevail. Justice Equality Freedom Peace!
3
y’all nah yorkers ought know how to decide this. better under Mr B or worse back then?
4 more years of that versus 4 more of the big D? pretty simple folks stop ya jawing
1
Could you and Friedman have a joint column to discuss Bloomberg at length? I’d like to read that.
1
Bloomberg will defeat Trump! end of story!
2
Nice job, Mr. Blow. I surmise you'd rather have Mr. Trump setting the equitable tone for race relations in this country. Thanks for adding fuel to the Democrats' quadrennial circular firing squad inferno... your single-minded, agenda-laden contribution is highly welcomed by the ever-so-noble, progressive Trump administration. No doubt you'll be quoted. Bigly.
6
And look how NYC is doing now under DeBlasio. Murders are up an exponential amount since Bloomberg left office. Say what you want about Stop and Frisk, but it worked. And it worked for the very communities that you're claiming were victims under it. Charles Blow, you write these hit pieces on Dems who actually have the best chance to defeat Trump. It's infuriating. This city was wayyyy better under Bloomberg than the liberal lunatic in office now who lets criminals out of jail with this ridiculous bail reform.
1
Fact: homicides in the United States are disproportionately committed by young men of color (by a factor of about eight). Can facts be racist?
5
Bye, Bye, Bloviator Billionaire Bloomberg. Here’s your new slogan: Mike Is Done
1
Breaking on CNN: In 2008, Bloomberg blamed the financial crisis on the end of redlining. He suggested that by giving poorer (largely minority) communities access to credit they had long been denied for housing, that this contributed to the housing crisis.
Charles - can you please ask your NYT colleague Tom Friedman if he can really sustain his support for this guy?
2
So -- four more years sounds good to Charles?
1
Would you prefer trump?
I like Mayor Pete but I will vote for ANY Democrat over Trump. The man is a walking sewer.
1
Beat.Trump.
Let's squabble after....
Mr. Blow. Would you rather have Trump, then?
1
Stop and frisk was wrong. Charles Blow is correct to point this out in detail, though he doesn’t talk about the drop in crime in the neighborhoods that got more police.
That said, should Bloomberg become the candidate I hope Mr Blow will not mimic Maureen and her relentless attacks on Hillary Clinton. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize and dump Trump.
4
Mr Blow, please move on. The times have changed (as did the NYC crime rate) and no one to my knowledge was killed due to the policy. Let's beat Trump.
Ok, fine, Mr. Blow. Have Trump for another four years. Bon appetite.
2
Hmmm -- then why are so many Black leaders endorsing him as of last night? And explain why NYC crime plummeted and now under uber-liberal people-pleaser DeBlasio it is soaring again.
Like it or not -- minority neighborhoods harbor bad eggs. Blacks know that, and they know they are frequently the target. They are not as dumb as you obviously think they are.
Mark my word -- Blacks will be all in for Bloomberg, not to mention they tend to admire rich men -- see some of the prosperity church leaders. People view Bloomberg as Daddy who will rescue us with his own money from a horrid alternative.
So -- you voting for Sanders or what?
2
With all due respect Mr. Blow, I have a major problem with your opinion piece. To portray Mr. Bloomberg as a racist, is just another case of the "Democrats Circular Firing Squad". I believe it was Barrack Obama who coined that term, and who .... by the way, thought pretty highly of Mike Bloomberg ! In your purity test, you focus on one mistake that MB made, and for which he has apologized. If you look at the big picture, on the vast majority of issues that affect black voters, MB is all in. Affordable health care, middle and lower class tax cuts, education, gun control, pro choice for women, climate change, etc. Lest we forget, under Trump, we have white supremist' s openly carrying torches through our streets. The bottom line is, for the sake of our country and all the people in it .... we desperately need a candidate who can beat Donald Trump ! Please tell me who you are referring to, when you mention the other "fascinating" candidates, but fail to single out one .... that can beat DT in the general nationwide election ? Trust me, the only one DT fears, is MB !
3
Dear Charles Blow,
I can't disagree with one word in your column, BUT we need a "Jungle Fighter" now!
It was said that Andrew Carnegie was a jungle fighter. We need one and Michael Bloomberg is a jungle fighter.
I was in the Army for three years and most of it was spent overseas. If I had a choice between Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders or Mike Bloomberg in a fox hole with me, I'm choosing Bloomberg. Why? Because he's a jungle fighter as it was said of Andrew Carnegie.
I want my democracy back. I didn't take that one step forward at the Oakland Induction Center September 16, 1963 for this draft dodger to take it away!
I also believe if Mike Bloomberg wants to heal this nation, he should exonerate all the innocents kids, who now have a record for marijuana possession— when he is president. If this "rogue" can do it for war criminals, Bloomberg can do it for "Innocent Kids."
1
I’m one Democrat who won’t vote for a racist billionaire whatever his name might be.
3
Under no circumstance should any Black person (or any person of good moral conscience ) consider voting for Michael Bloomberg. Period.
4
To Charles Blow: Maybe you can't forget, but you'd better learn to forgive. Bloomberg, like many powerful people, made mistakes borne of hubris. And he clearly is not perfect. It's fine to call that out--get it out there--but then all of us (including the rightly offended African-American community) must fix our gaze on the big picture, which is all about excising the putrid tumor that is the Trump presidency.
1
Stop and Frisk disgraced everything New York City stands for. This phony baloney punk now wants to buy the White House. As much as I dislike Trump, this guy Bloomberg is no better. And we haven't even started talking about the little guy's sexual harassment in the workplace.
2
Portraying Bloomberg as a racist helps Trump. Bloomberg is the best hope to defeat Trump. Mr. Blow is not doing the country or the minority any favors here.
2
The best you can say about Bloomberg is that he was a benevolent dictator. Strike that "benevolent." He is no more than a rich clown who wants to run the government for his own purposes. Sound like anyone else we know?
4
Michael Bloomberg has a very impressive record of helping black communities with education and housing but Mr. Blow is obviously looking for a pure candidate with no blemishes what so ever. He will end up with overtly racist Trump for another four years. And what will he say then?
4
Charles, I like you.
But know when to get out of the way?
1
Given our country's racist past -- slavery, reconstruction, Jim Crow, segregation, etc., etc. -- and its racist present -- unequal education, voter suppression, etc., etc., I wonder if Charles Blow thinks another four years of Trump, with all that will mean for our poor country, is just deserts.
So what?
Trump is a white supremacist and so is everyone in the Republican party.
I am African American and I will vote for Bloomberg if he can beat Trump.
5
So just to be accurate, let's note that Mr Blow does not begin to challenge the statistically based assertion that minority young males commit the over whelming percentage of murders and violent crime in the city.
Until such progressives as Mr Blow are intellectually capable of directly addressing the reality of minority male violent crime, progressives will have no credibility with the rest of the electorate. None.
Every human of cognitive capacity knows the difference between right and wrong. Every one of us. Including those minority males who prey on other people.
Calling them out for what they are is honest, not racist.
Branding those who call out this intellectual dishonesty as racist is the mirror image of the rankest republican clamoring for right wing ideological purity.
Bloomberg was more right than wrong. Mr Blow knows that and the editors know that. Guess what, so do most people who have lived in NYC.
5
Charles,
You are just going to have to get over it because he may be our last, best chance at restoring integrity to our Democracy. Yes, he is a white man, warts an all...
Baloney. He can beat Donald. I like Mike.
1
Ok. Have your way, Charles. You won't have to forgive Trump after his second term either..
Bloomberg could have challenged Trump directly. Here's an interesting take on what he's doing to the democrats:
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/02/11/if-bloomberg-wants-buy-election-he-should-run-republican-against-trump-not-sabotage
1
I can't believe NYT is actually publishing an anti-Bloomberg opinion! Every article and opinion I've seen in the NYT has been gushingly positive for Bloomberg, who is a REPUBLICAN. Really, Democrats should nominate a republican over Sanders? This is just unreal what the media is doing to ignore and trash Bernie and his vision. The fix is in.
3
"Ninety-five percent of your murders — murderers and murder victims — fit one M.O.,” Bloomberg said. “You can just take the description, Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops. They are male, minorities, 16 to 25. That’s true in New York. That’s true in virtually every city.”
Is it racist if that is true?
1
From reading the Times articles, it appears that the NYT does not want Bloomberg. Nor do they want Bernie. Warren is not liked too well by the gang of opinion influencers. Buttigieg appears to be somewhat favorable. And you all seem to love Biden -- when the rest of the electorate has discounted him as viable.
So who do you expect to be the knight in shining amour ready to joust Trump from his horse?
Ahh.... I get it, you want Hillary to be drafted at the convention and she seems to be gearing up for it.
Ahh, yes. A Subway Series like in the days of old.
"Democrats have a field of fascinating candidates." , so states the ever angry Charles M. Blow. Granted, stop-and-frisk was never proven to be an effective way to prevent crime, but to imply that Bloomberg is racist is not credible. So, Blow, who are these fascinating candidates that will bring home the gold in Nov? Trump and his gang are street fighters, throw them up -against-the-wall types who would like nothing better than to destroy each one, be it via Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, you name it. There's only one one person willing and able to push back and counter that type of lowlife. That person is Mike Bloomberg. Charles, Get Over It.
2
You are not helping either Mr. Blow - would you rather have the current occupant of the Oval Office - I guess the answer is YES!
1
What has not been mentioned is for several years after, Bloomberg spent $ 6 MILLION dollars of taxpayers money fighting against the verdict of a wrongfully convicted black man in New York long after he was released.
1
There is nothing wrong with racial profiling if it works. PaulN (racially profilable)
So you want Trump back again.
It’s official: according to NYT OpEd writers no Democratic contender is perfect and therefore not a worthy replacement for Trump. Start writing the inaugural speech, Stephen Miller.
1
While Bloomberg was mayor very few New Yorkers including black New Yorkers resented the stop and frisk policy because it helped reduce violent crime and particularly crimes targeting blacks.
1
Mr. Blow, is that all you got? There are SO many other issues and dimensions to this man and to our country. You speak (rightly) of diversity, yet I see little of it in your own writings.
1
Since when are racist policies acceptable in the Democratic Party?
Since when is support of fascist policies in the Middle East acceptable in the Democratic Party?
Since when does wealth make right in the Democratic Party?
A Bloomberg presidency would would not be Democratic presidency, it would be just a slightly better Republican presidency.
2
Welcome to the Re-elect Donald J. Trump Campaign
2
The question is, would Mr. Blow prefer Mr. Trump too Mr. Blumberg. Because there is a good chance Blumberg will be running against Trump. This is the second anti- Blumberg rant from Blow the Times has published.
Glad to see this information make into the NYT. Thank you Charles Blow.
1
I'll take anyone over Trump. Anyone. democrat, republican, socialist, martian...
-- but can any other democrat beat trump --
1
It wasn't racist at all. It was directed at swaggering punks of all races.
1
Surprisingly, polls show that most of the blacks who have decided not to support Biden are moving to Bloomberg. Maybe enforcing the laws and arresting criminals is not as offensive to them as you might suppose.
5
Good to know there is one and ONLY one disenfranchised group in America. This is a truly self indulgent, whiny column, Mr Blow. If women reporters and columnists wrote off every male who had slighted them, denied them the right to vote for a century or so, failed to hire them, paid them less, made unwanted sexual advances,failed to promote them, denied them paid leave for anew baby (THEIR babies!), paid them less for the same job, would we all get behind them? We haven’t done that yet, have we? So, fall on your sword Mr Blow. You’re breaking my heart.
2
Ninety-five percent of your insider trading — financial crimes and their victims — fit one M.O. You can just take the description, Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops. They are male, Whites, 35 to 77 yrs old. That’s true in New York. That’s true in virtually every city.”
One of the unintended consequences is, people say, ‘Oh my God, you are arresting White men for marijuana, they’re all respectable. Yes, that’s true. Why? Because put all the cops in the financial district. Yes, that’s true. Why do we do it? Because that’s where all the crime is.
The way you get the $million crimes out of the crooks’ hands is to throw them against the wall and frisk them and take their cell phones.
2
This sort of garbage can only lead to the reelection of Donald Trump. Just stop it.
2
True and true and true, but: blacks were the hardest hit by the rampant crime wave and in a perverse logic benefited in similar proportion to Bloomberg’s misguided tactics. (I’m not saying it was a direct result of stop and frisk. I’m not an idiot.)
No republican is apologizing for their openly blatant crimes. Maybe Bloomberg’s apology will never erase the damage, but the damage to blacks under Trump will have a far greater and lasting impact on minorities than anything Bloomberg has done.
Think of Churchill’s alliance with Stalin who helped us win WWII. Think of what we’re up against. This is no time for a moral litmus test for something Bloomberg had stopped and has also admitted his bad judgement, not to forget that he had also apologized.
Oh, yes, to get elected after Giuliani who reduced crime with questionable tactics, Bloomberg could not have won his race for mayor without taking an anti crime stance.
Yes, it’s cynical, but he’s my Stalin, here to help defeat Trump. It’s not Booker, Sanders, Warren, or, sorry, Butigege. Biden, the great hope is self destructing y the minute.
Mr Blow: what’s your solution? I mean a real contender that captivates ALL of the country not just to become president of the democrats.
My final cynicism is that the very complaint Mr Blow makes is a plus in some parts of the country. Oddly, his deficit is his liberalism: gun control, climate change action, and more.
1
A lot of white privilege going on here. How many of Bloomberg's detractors have ever faced a violent criminal face to face? In fact, how many even live in neighborhood where they know a neighbor who has faced a violent criminal face to face? If you think a life is ruined by being frisked, how about if you were shot, or your measly food or rent pittance is ripped off in the face of a .38? Ask those victims how they feel before you proselytize and pontificate about how racist Bloomberg is.
5
bloomy never apologized for stowing Occupy in a little park to appease the fatcats he reported on. I find that even WORSE, and—let's not call it "stop-and-frisk"; I think "grope-for-dope" better describes that Fourth Amendment violation—grope-for-dope, and the racist rationale for it, was bad enough.
Vote Blue No Matter Who, But Make Sure They're Really Blue.
1
How about this, Charles - should this be forgotten...
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/nyregion/mayor-bloomberg-states-case-for-same-sex-marriage.html
Mr Blow has absolutely no sense of perspective, which is why only the left on the left of the left takes him seriously. He only wishes to destroy the village in order to save it. Are people of color better off because of trump? Would they be over the next four years under Bloomberg or under a Trump with no re-election pressure? Come on, Charles. NYT readers deserve better.
2
A strong opinion from the comfort and safety of your Midtown office.
When NYC was a cesspool of violence, stop and frisk saved hundreds of black lives. If police had stopped more non-people of color, would that matter more to you?
3
Blow, as in every article, filters his column by race. It is his only card. Bloomberg can beat Trump. I'd like to see what rhetoric lurks in Blow's past, and whether, if revealed today, it would be fatal to his writing. Bloomberg was an excellent mayor of a complex city. Sorry, Charles, but right or wrong, he was responding to street crime in NY's poorest areas, as requested by its poorest residents, who wanted to improve their quality of life. Get off your racist bandwagon and deal with reality.
4
I’d support Bloomberg in heartbeat.
Sincerely,
A 30 year resident of NY, who is black, and had a brother killed by an illegal handgun.
4
I can't forget that policy as much as I pine for its return. My neighborhood is the highest crime ridden area of New York. It's very easy to behave as a do good liberal and call all and every action of enforcement, racist, mean, bias....until you get mugged, until your loved one gets robbed at gunpoint and beaten up, until your elderly sweet neighbor gets thrown to the ground and robbed. I care more about innocent people that are harmed. Do you face this daily Mr. Blow? Of course not, that's why as Trump does, you protect your base and your job by calling reasonable policing, racist. Enjoy the cocktail party and dinner and Lux Uber ride home to your doorman building. Im a bad person, you're good.
6
Get over it man! You’d rather Trump, then?
1
Mr. Blow must not live in the projects or have relatives who do.
The crack epidemic devastated my grandmother’s block off 125th as gangs ruled the courtyards between buildings and tagged hallways to warn residents about contacting police.
The trouble with “progressive” African American commentators like Blow and those that frequent MSNBC is they pretend to speak of us as a monolithic block.
Their version of group-think takes it’s cues from Black Lives Matter and they either dismiss or shame any point of view that reflect to a more complex reality.
I a man reminded of a story by Jesse Jackson back when he was running for president. He said that when he found himself walking alone in the city at night, hearing footsteps behind him and feeling relieved to see they were not black teenagers.
He went on to address the need to solve inner city drug related crimes overwhelmingly perpetrated by young black men.
Bloomberg was doing what poor black folks wanted done to clean up their neighborhoods.
Mr. Blow, stop trolling Michael Bloomberg. He was a great mayor and he will make a great president.
6
Bloomberg will not win the primary, and the young people of this country will see to it. He will fail to inspire them. They see through these flashy, emotional ads for the vacuous, feel-good messages they are. They know that Bloomberg does not have a stake in the problems of the most vulnerable among us. If he had any principles, he would run as a Republican, which he is, to split the Trump ticket. The DNC ran a centrist with many flaws in 2016. We all know how that worked out. And now they seem hell bent on doing it again. Losing will not be pretty, but it will be a major wake up call. A vote for Bloomberg means the failure of the Democratic party to provide any viable solutions to the critical problems of this generation.
1
The road to justice is a long one. I think it would be shorter with a President Bloomberg, than 4 more years of hell. At the end of the day, I don't think Bloomberg is racist. He supported a policy that turned out to be racist and illegal, but does anyone honestly believe he did so because he feels black Americans ought to be treated worse than white Americans? Of course not.
People can learn and they can change. I'm all in for anyone but trump and refuse to spend too much time knocking any of the Dems. Except for one fake Dem (TG).
We must unite to remove the most serious threat our nation has ever faced. We must keep the house, take back the Senate and the White House - otherwise all the progress minorities have made since 1964 will be eliminated or worse.
The writing is on the wall. This is no time for perfectionism. Love you Charles, I really do - but please focus on the real threat here. Trumpism threatens every minority - AA, LGBT, immigrants, women in positions of power etc - because being anything but white, straight and male is a scary and seen as a threat to their established power base.
We must band together and unite strongly behind all decent Democrats.
1
Mr. Blow, I fear you are recycling the same column. If you continue to feel this way you should support another candidate. Given our choices Bloomberg looks pretty good to me, no matter how may columns you devote to your disdain for him. What else do you have to say?
3
Let's assume that Bloomberg's apology for stop and frisk is sincere, and that he is truly -- even humbly -- sorry for it and for minimizing the inestimable damage inflicted by callously criminalizing innocent black men. Mere apologies -- words only -- for such destruction is not enough; he must do something. His sidling up to black Mayors and Congressional Black Caucus folks is not in the least bit persuasive of his contrition given his focus occupying the Oval Office. He has the means to do more -- much more. Perhaps he should find the inncoent men he profiled and do whatever he can to help them -- to find employment, to receive medical asssitance for the resultant emotional trauma, or pay for education to build employable skills. That would be convincing. His suck-ups are not-- not nearly.
2
The sad truth is you are putting your own racial bias over the last best hope of saving Democracy on earth.
4
With full respect for Mr. Blow, I'm gonna side with the analysis of Thomas Friedman and accept Bloomberg's apology for stop-frisk and his acknowledgment that it did only harm to people of color and to the community at large. In effect, he's "owned it"--not hidden from nor dodged questions about it. He's sat with religious and political leaders of color in an effort to both find forgiveness and explain his intentions going forward. And, obviously, to remove an ugly obstacle in the path before him.
No one is without flaws, absolutely including Michael Bloomberg. But the assets he brings to this important contest, not simply financial, but pragmatism, leadership, experience and independence make him a potential anchor for a party adrift in ideologies. Mike + Amy? Mike + Cory? It'll be a hell of a few weeks ahead of us, but let's keep our focus on the mission: to rid our government of the one who has never "owned" a single one of his lies, abuses of power or acts of degradation against women, minorities and American patriots (Hello from here, John McCain).
Get real, people. Every, and I mean every, politician has regrettable actions in his/her past. If you want to defeat impotus, move on and focus on the ultimate goal--finding the right person to destroy this bloated pompous blow-hard in Nov.
1
I hope in wanting Bloomberg, you are not trading a power hungry man as dumb as a rock; to a power hungry man as smart as any politician alive.
I think that it is sad that we now live in an age where people will always, for the rest of their lives, be judged for a single decision, no matter what else they do. We no longer have the opportunity to learn, to grow, to change, to be better; whatever we once did in the past will forever brand us. Even for relatively minor infractions, you are now branded in perpetuity, regardless of how your thinking has changed. Liberals and religious believers used to say that people could overcome their mistakes, that there was the opportunity to repent and be a new and better soul. Now, they are the hounds from Hell, making sure that nothing is ever forgiven. I'm not talking about people who never change, who keep making the same errors for decades. But most of us have made mistakes in the past from which we have learned, and we deserve some grace.
Michale Bloomberg had the best Tweet of the week in response to Trump's attack, brilliant.
“We know many of the same people in NY. Behind your back they laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown. They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid deals and incompetence."
4
I asked this question before. Why is this man in the Democrat Party? I was wrong in this. That was a question of the year 2000 or earlier. Today its February 2020. In 2020, the question is, why is Michael R. Bloomberg in either of the major political parties of the United States?
In 2002 Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi was forced to resign as Senate Republican Leader, for his racist comments that were far more benign and far more distant in history than those of Michael Bloomberg.
The profound weakness of this, an American political party is deeply disturbing, frightening really. Not only is Bloomberg literally buying his way into the party (all the way into the nomination); he's purchasing the endorsement of African American politicians, Congressmen, who, care nothing for their (our) race. Or our destiny and the destiny of the Democrat Party party in our country.
What Michael Bloomberg has written and spoken about publicly, is the de facto justification of the murder of 17 year old Trayvon Martin, in FL 2012. And the murder of 18 year old Michael Brown in Missouri in August in 2014.
But his uncritical association with the Democrat party, the complete disregard (by that Party) for his advocacy of the justified assault, and killing of Black children, boys in particular, makes him unfit for membership, and especially for leadership in any American political party in the 21st century.
Why is this man in either major political party of the US?
1
If frisking my kid kept him from being killed I say: frisk my kid every day, twice.
I am tired of certain communities demanding action and then complaining about the actions they called for. Thousands of young black and brown kids are alive today because of stop and frisk. You want your kid to not get shot but you also want your kid to not ever have to be inconvenienced. Pick one and stop complaining. I don't care anymore.
3
Here's what is undeniable Mr. Blow. The victims of the senseless shootings and drug wars are taking place in those parts of the cities where blacks and brown's live. That is a fact.
By aggressively taking extreme measures he was heavy handed but extreme situations (vast majority of homicide rape and drug offenses) occurred in those parts of the city. I live outside of Philadelphia with a murder pace expected to exceed last year. Do you have a fool proof plan that you have been holding back from all of us?
What would you have had Bloomberg do, stop and frisk everywhere?
Too bad it came to that but ultimately those neighborhoods were the beneficiaries. Crime went down .
3
Let's ignore everything that Mike has done for minorities and fixate on what he has done wrong. Let's re-elect Donald Trump!
2
Oh, but clearly you see that having Bloomberg with his racist statements and policies is far better than a - a - a democratic socialist who believes that human rights are for all people, not just white ones! He will save us from having naughty people use the word "socialist" to define the Democratic party. Better to be racists than socialists! The former is widely supported by Trump's base so they will vote for him, especially since he is a moderate Republican who opportunistically re-registered as a Democrat to win the mayoral race in bright blue NYC. Certainly, that is better than an Independent who doesn't pander by changing his registration! The moderate Dems are gag-gag over "moderate" or "former" Republicans who are just like them. What they don't want is a bit of economic stability for the working and middle class. Mon Dieu! Riff-raft.
Bloomberg also changed the rules to give himself another term as mayor. If Trump does that in the WH, the DNC will go bonkers, but it is fine for their would-be savior.
He is just another arrogant, entitled billionaire buying an election. How great is that for democracy?
1
I don't like either one, but if the election ends up being between a total racist and a casual racist, I will reluctantly vote for the casual racist.
1
Charles, if the choice in November is Bloomberg or trump, whom would you vote for, or would you not vote?
To all of the self righteous folks minimizing stop and frisk and/or those who feel Charles Blow is somehow dead-wrong and irresponsible, here’s my suggestion.
Just take a look at the video of tennis great James Blake outside of his hotel when he was tackled by that officer.
I suggest you do so because for many who were stopped and frisked, myself included, we did walk away with some physical pain.
Luckily for me, it was just my upper arm and shoulder.
And guess what? I wasn’t carrying any weapon. I was just snatched from behind. I didn’t even see the officer.
I would not have had a problem with the policy if there was some civility to it.
Mayor Bloomberg can be forgiven. After all, there is more to him than just this policy.
But he should just come clean.
Just saying “I’m sorry” relative to the size and scope of this issue is like me saying “I’m sorry” after breaking your arm or leg for no rational reason.
I wonder how many of you who just don’t get it now get it?
Something tells me the answer is either “None” or your response will be preceded by the term “But.”
1
Charles -the only way to keep Bloomberg from getting the nomination is to VOTE and vote big in the next few primaries for Biden, Pete or Amy. Maybe you need to go to SC and now!
Stop and frisk or no stop and frisk.
I am a Black NYC male.
I rather an angry racist cop stopped me 3 times a day, rather than one more hour of Donald John Trump.
5
OK, time to pick your poison. Purity in all things or do you want 4 more years of Trump?
"These minority boys were being hunted."
Yet the so many of these commenters are willing to forgive him.
This is hypocritical at worst, telling at best. White Democrats will happily take unjust laws so long as they work to their desire. In this case, defeating Trump.
Sorry. Not me. I forgive him. But I have not forgotten. And Bloomberg has not earned enough good will for this Black man to support him.
So yes. I'll take the loudmouth, liar, and vile Trump- whose policies have benefited many in my community- over Bloomberg who has done nothing to benefit my community. Because IF you have called Trump a racist, what is Bloomberg?
1
trump is a black horse with white stripes, MRB is a white horse with black stripes. And they both believe the end justifies the means. Both are horses of a different color. One was a Dem now Pub the other just the opposite both extreme opportunists.
1
Democrats be warned. If Bloomberg is the Democratic nominee, black voters will stay home on election day, and Trump will have a second term.
You're worried about disaffected white voters in the midwest? See how well you do without the African American vote.
Trump is racist. But replacing one racist is not a choice most of us are willing to make. We'll just stay home.
1
I understand Mr. Blow's position on Michael Bloomberg and stop and frisk. Stop and frisk was clearly unconstitutional on multiple grounds.
At the same time, I don't understand why Mr. Blow ignores the core problem of crime in the African-American community including the "don't snitch" attitude.
If Democrats cast aside the strongest challenger to Donald Trump, and then lose, then it will be two in a row snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
The word "racist" is tossed around too freely. Bloomberg took steps to solve a problem that was killing mostly black people in his city. It required the police to establish a very visible presence in black neighborhoods where the crimes were mostly occurring. There was no way to do it gently. Presumably black lives were saved and black neighborhoods became safer for the people living there. I'd guess that most people in those neighborhoods would agree even though some pundits and activists may not.
1
The only question you have to ask yourself Charles is if it comes down to it, and it is Michael Bloomberg vs Donald Trump will you stay home and not vote and encourage other people of color to do the same? Which man poses the far greater evil? If I have to hold my nose, and take antacids to do it, I am going to vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is.
2
I want to see African American and Hispanic community based armed citizens 24 hour patrols to make their communities safe and welcoming. Exterminate violent gangs of criminals and drug dealers and watch the communities flourish.
Back and brown communities need to take initiatives in rescuing their communities from the grip of violence and destruction.
African American support for Bloomberg is surging. From Monday's Quinnipiac poll:
"A nationwide Quinnipiac poll on Monday showed a steep decline in Biden's African American support — from 49% to 27% — in just two weeks. Rising fast — from 7% to a second-place 22% in the same period — was Michael Bloomberg. Bernie Sanders was third at 19%; Elizabeth Warren, fourth at 8%; and Pete Buttigieg, fifth at 4%."
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/trump-new-hampshire-primary-bloomberg-biden-sanders-buttigieg-warren-klobuchar-1.41696928
1
Democrats are so obsessed with finding a Messiah that they will bestow that title on anyone:
-Beto
-Kamala
-Joe
-Liz
-Bernie
-Pete
-Mike
Now they want to crown Amy as the second coming.
Newsflash to Dems, there is no JFK, Bill, or Barack in this field. Your victory (if you get one) will be based on a clear vision that all Americans can relate to, hard work, and some luck.
Quite getting outraged at Trump, by doing so you are taking the bait and distracting yourself from your tough road ahead.
Charles, I have one question for you and I would like an honest answer: if the choice on November 3 is between Trump and Bloomberg, what will you do?
1
Wish John Kerry would get into the race. Swiftboating has run its course.
1
As it should not be. And he admits his error. But he can beat The Donald, who, as we know, is an actual racist and a danger to the world, So consider that when you get stuck on a single issue, please.
1
I appreciated "stop and frisk" in that it got guns off the street.
I'm pretty sure that those who've lost family and friends to some jerk with a gun would have liked him not to have had one.
That the process could have been "kinder and gentler," perhaps. But when guys are hanging out at all hours, there's little to expect from them except mayhem.
And when they're armed -- you know, bullets go through windows and siding too.
1
Billionaire Bloomberg should be called The Brainwasher because that’s what he’s done to all the gullible Dems who are suddenly singing his praises after being subjected to his slick (nonstop) TV ads. I guess that old saying is true — there really is a sucker born every minute.
This is all well and good, Mr. Blow.
How many people have you just convinced to refuse to vote for Bloomberg under any circumstances?
Now what?
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Bravo. Bloomberg is an arrogant and authoritarian liar with slightly better manners than the other debased billionaire from New York.
2
So distressing to see so many comments below on the theme, "OK, stop-and-frisk wasn't perfect, but who's perfect anyway?"
Stop-and-frisk is a perfect example of structural violence. Structural violence "results from historically given processes and forces that conspire to restrain individual agency."
As a white 58-year-old master of social work student from lily-white Marin county, CA, I can only imagine the trauma that kids and adults of color experienced for being manhandled by the police for making "furtive movements." "You are bad for who you are" is the clear message.
Haven't we had enough of "You are bad for who you are" over the last three years? Beat Trump, yes we must. But everyone knows what the road to hell is paved with.
2
Bloomberg tweeted the following in response to one of Trump's inane attacks: "We know many of the same people in NY. Behind your back they laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown. They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid deals and incompetence. I have the record & the resources to defeat you. And I will." So, yeah, I'm kinda likin' Mike a whole lot right now.
2
Thanks Charles for telling the truth - never again!!
1
Say what you want about Bloomberg, NYC became a better place under his leadership. Real estate values in previously redlined neighborhoods have made many people wealthy. Until DiBlasio, crime rates were headed down. Nobody's perfect, but Bloomberg is a lot less imperfect that the buffoon currently occupying the White House.
Donald Trump ran to be president to feed his narcissist need to be looked up to, and to increase the value of his brand. Does anyone at this point really feel he did this to help the American people. Michael Bloomberg threw his hat into the race because he sees Trump destroying out democracy, destroying our environment and climate and because he does not see a viable democrat likely to beat Trump. Bloomberg's apology seems genuine to me. Did you ever see Trump apologize. Charles, I know you speak from your heart, but if Michael Bloomberg wins the democratic primary and your distaste for him helps Trump win the general election than you might well become the Notorious Charles M. Blow.
I think this one issue makes Charles go crazy beyond all reasonable levels-he can't ever forgive, and can't ever forget. Bloomberg isn't a racist; you can feel his policies were misguided or insensitive, but your hatred and lack of partiality come so glaringly through.
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Blow People like you are going to give us another 4 years of Trump and when that happens I hope you have the courage to own that and not deny it.
Sanders has no chance to win against Trump. As someone else mentioned here. The electoral college will make that imposible. The pragmatic thing to do here is to nominate Bloomberg to defeat Trump. But as I said before you will not accept that because you feel a personal injury to your community was done by Bloomberg. So ok by all means sepuku yourself and the rest of the country with Trump.
1
Mike Bloomberg is a Republican, nuff said.
1
He makes me sick to my stomach. He's another plutocrat who loves to speak about himself in the third person (who does that?!) on an ego trip and blows with the wind politically. Never mind his racism and sexism. Juss say no to Mike.
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It's important for Bloomberg to address this racist policy, but it's no more sensible to use it to define Bloomberg than it would be to use today's attack piece to define Charles M. Blow.
1
Mr. Blow,
Your attack on Mr. Bloomberg serves to increase the re-election chances of our current president who rules the country as an incompetent Mob Don.
The danger is Trump, not Bloomberg. Are you too young to recall the violence and squalor of NYC in the 1970’s and 80’s? I was there. It was awful! Bloomberg helped re-establish social and financial stability. Remember Yonkers?
Antisemitism is just as virulent as anti black racism. Your attack on Bloomberg contains more than a dog whistle.
In the face of the incalculable damage to our Republic of a second Trump term you are incredibly unwise to attack Bloomberg.
2
So Mr. Blow prefers Trump to Bloomberg.
2
Thoughts for Thoughtful Voters
The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good
I am not a member of any organized political party -- I'm a Democrat!
------Will Rogers 1930-something's
1
Thank you
Hate Bloomberg all you like, Mr. Blow, but he's th going to be only one who can beat Trump. He's fully in control of his agenda--and his emotions--and has vastly more money than Trump; moreover, he owes no one anything. Except an apology to the black and brown New Yorkers, and he's delivered that. Maybe not as abjectly as you'd like, but that's water over the dam at this point. If Bloomberg wins the nomination, and I pray he does, will you stay home and withhold your vote out of hatred? If you do that, you forfeit any right to criticize and vilify Donald Trump. Make up your mind, sir, and quickly.
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Bloomberg owns his past screw ups. I am quite bummed that Trump lying isn’t couched as such by media. The president lied again today regarding his support of maintaining prior health condition coverage.
Bloomberg has the bucks to truly fight back, screw-ups or positive efforts aside.
Trump found religion.
1
Looks like Mr. Blow wants Donald Trump to be President again, let’s see how that goes for us.
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Far be it for anybody sane to point out that bloomberg was statistically not wrong.
The idea that bloomberg is actually "racist" falls apart very quickly when contrasted with the obvious alternative explanation-- that bloomberg made a well intentioned effort to direct law enforcement resources to the communities that were suffering the most crime. Damned if you do... it seems.
As it were, anybody with half a brain should see that bloomberg is not actually "racist." His selection of kamala harris as a running mate -- a selection based on her inherent qualities, not her race or gender ... would be a masterstroke and a cant lose ticket.
Didn't the _NY Times_ run this same article a month ago?
2
Fatal one-issueism.
1
Keep it up Charles. The beauty of your stance is that it will all but guarantee that you'll be able to recycle your "Trump is a vile racist who's destroying our country" column for at least another 4 1/2 years. Good for you.
2
Word
You keep knocking Mike Bloomberg and you will end up with Trump.....is THAT what you want?????
1
Save us from Mike Bloomberg!!! (Re-elect Donald Trump.)
You go Charles.
1
Wow, liberals sure don't need enemies when they've got each other.
Enjoy 4 more years of the guy who came up with the Muslim ban and still wants to execute the Central Park five.
1
Charles Blow.
Proof Liberals will never be satisfied.
Enjoy 4 more years of Trump.
Still bringing a knife to a gun fight, I see, Charles. I suggest you get over it; black voters have bigger fish to fry.
Amy, please.
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You lost me at "apartheid".
Not forgotten, forgiven. Do you really think Mr. Bloomberg is a racist, Mr. Blow? Why does Prof. Gates support him??
I found this article a fascinating read, because my black friends have all told me they like Bloomberg. I'm a boomer and so are they. I'm pretty sure millennials of color don't support him. Still, I scratched my head because something seemed wrong with this picture. Then I remembered about "stop and frisk." In our fun house mirror world of alternative facts, Trump will no doubt use this argument against him during the campaign, branding him a racist. Irony is dead. I think the primary reason my friends like Bloomberg is they think he has deep enough pockets to beat Trump. "If you're fighting a monster like Trump you don't need a Democratic Socialist," one of my friends told me, "you need Godzilla."
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Bloomberg has known for at least three years that Trump is a horrible threat to our country. Yet, he is only now stepping into the ring, while other candidates have done the hard work of organizing, fundraising, debating, and campaigning state by state for many months. Bloomberg now sees fit to write a check to buy his way into an election. This is white male privilege at its worst - and it’s almost as insulting and offensive as Bloomberg’s stop and frisk policy.
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The Dems are doing a fine job of shooting themselves and each other in the feet. It is not wise for us to assist in this.
The current administration won't let anyone forget the flaws of the opposition come November.
We desperately, I reiterate, DESPERATELY need a viable liberal candidate for POTUS. I find it foolish for anyone purporting to be a liberal to tar and feather a potentially very strong candidate.
Tread carefully or we may soon be without a justice system, checks and balances in congress and democracy as we know it.
It's time to WIN!
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I’d like to ask those who, one one hand, are supporting Pete Buttigieg for President but, on the other, expressing everything from reservations to disgust about Bloomberg’s stop and frisk, to answer this question. How did you react to Buttigieg’s answer to a question regarding marijuana arrests in South Bend?? He was asked why they had increased after he became mayor. He denied it, then after statistics were cited and he was pressed, he acknowledged that they had. His rationale was that the arrests were a tool to combat gang activity in his city. Can someone explain to me how that answer is different than Bloomberg’s statements as mayor?
Thanks you for this. What we don't need is another racist autocrat who refuses to listen to his staff and thinks he knows better... then covers that up with "spin", at best, outright lies often enough. I won't believe his "apology" until I hear him speak in a real and informed way about the credible evolution of his racial awareness over time, the awakenings and the self-inspection, and humility, that show a commitment to deep change of self ... anybody can say "I'm sorry" without a shred of understanding or meaning.
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Mr. Blow, I often agree with you, and I agree with a lot of what you say here, too. Your line about minority boys "being hunted," is true, compelling, and as a Latinx man, I got choked up when I read it.
Here's the thing: Bloomberg is a flawed man, but a good man. I look at the totality of his life's work, and yes, his wealth, and I think he can make it to the White House. The nation will be better for it. I do not discount the scar that stop and frisk left on our individual lives and our communities. I can hold a few truths at the same time.
As a democrat, I think we sometimes eat ourselves alive, while republicans fall in line. This is not the election to do this. If Bernie is the nominee, I will vote for him. If Bloomberg is the nominee, I will vote for him. My thinking is Bloomberg has the better chance. If he teams up with Stacy Abrams or Keith Ellison, all the better. Democrats are principled. I get it. What are my principles when I write I can vote for Bernie or Bloomberg? My overriding principle is to get a very dangerous, incompetent, and morally bankrupt man out of office. That’s it right now. People of color (and indeed all Americans) will benefit if we can do this.
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I'm not at all sure that I could hold my nose to vote for Mr. Bloomberg. Not only did he run a racist police policy, but he was a hypocrite of massive proportions when it came to pollution. He argued that we should keep the middle class from driving cars into NYC, but he piloted a private jet to and from Bermuda and London weekly--thus producing more air pollution than an awful lot of middle-class car drivers--and he illegally piloted a helicopter in Manhattan on weekends when the heliport was closed. As a fighter for the environment, he was a self-serving hypocrite.
Nomination of Mr. Bloomberg by the Democrats would be gift to Mr. Trump. Just what America does not need: two egocentric New York billionaires from whom to chose. I don't think I could tolerate voting for either of them.
We deserve better than a contest between Mr. Trump and Mr. Bloomberg. We deserve a choice, not a joke of an election.
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As a person who was not affected by Stop-And-Frisk I can only say that I support any person who refuses to vote for Bloomberg, should it come to that. But allow my murdered Austrian family to school you on the dangers of not seeing an emergency for what it is, of lacking unity in the face of an existential threat, and for hesitating when they should have acted.
Not only will I vote for any Democrat who wins the nomination, I won't even badmouth any of them beforehand.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is going to be 87 in two weeks. Our duty at this moment has never been clearer: to protect the country, its laws, the democracy itself, the Supreme Court and the planet for our children. Is it amoral, self- serving and coldly pragmatic to fall into "lock-step unity" in order to defend those things I love in the same way that Republicans have done for a lying, degenerate vandal? I wish I had the luxury to sit and ponder that. Do you?
2
The three favorite “moderates” or ”centrists” in the Democratic primary, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and Bloomberg, all have a public record of specific cases of racism. All gave phony apologies.
I don’t buy the apologies and neither will the American people, especially POC. Even George Wallace and Bull Connor apologized for their racism.
Is this indifference to racism and taking POC for granted what centrist want to run on in the Democratic Party?
And what does that say about Democratic “centrist” in general?
For me centrism today is based on the idea of status quo, not compromising and not changing, i.e. conservatism’s original definition. Marginally better than reactionary conservatism that wants to change things back to the way things were, when we had more discrimination.
Centrism will get Trump reelected.
This is still a change election and the Democratic base will not come out in force to vote for a centrist, status quo racist. Male or female.
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The state of the nation: it may take a real oligarch to depose a fake oligarch. What a waste of a republic. What an embarrassment.
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Imagine that -- only 10% of random people were criminals. Picture all your friends and families. In total perhaps 100 individuals. Now pick out the 10 of them who actually are criminals. What? There can't be that many or you can't think of ANY?
Yet Stop and Frisk found those 10% because they were not random people. They were people in high crime areas. Many were carrying guns! Yes, these were predominantly Black and Latino communities. And those arrested were primarily Blacks and Latinos. And yes, this was a bigoted outcome. But the objective was to put away criminals, reduce crime, and get guns off the street. I believe Stop and Frisk was effective. I also believe it outlived its usefulness and should have been stopped sooner. I think it is unfair to castigate someone for trying it out.
However, if 10% of my friends and family were arrested because of this policy I would also complain about it and call it racist.
Believe it or not, there are Democratic voters who are misogynists. Others who are racist. Others who harbor ugly prejudice against this or that ethnic groups. Others homophobic. Surely, some of these voters are unapologetic about their views.
But I will take their votes. I will not turn them away. We can work on their problems later, after we have taken care of everybody’s problem, which is Trump.
And if I am willing to accept the vote of the avowedly impure, I am certain I will accept anyone who has apologized for past actions and beliefs that run counter to my sacred ones, as long as she/he can bring us back from the brink.
If that's the worst thing he did, compared to Trump he still gets my vote. Bloomberg is s boy scout compared to Trump.
Trump is the worst president in modern times. Watch what happens in the future. Candidates of BOTH parties will say Trump got away with something. Why can't I?
Mr. Blow, thank you for reminding us of what an awful mayor Bloomberg was. In addition to what you said, he basically stole a third term & pretty much turned the City into a playground for the super rich. He's the only one of the Democratic candidates I could not vote for if he became the nominee.
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Bloomberg is buying his way into the race and he said he'd do so in order to stop Sanders. His aim is clear - he wants a brokered convention and he wants to keep the oligarchy well-oiled for the rich and powerful. He is a racist, and he is a classist and a he is a thief. He should probably be in jail for violating human rights not only or Stop and Frisk but for putting protesters in cages in the 2004 RNC and for ending Occupy Wall Street overnight.
If it comes down to Trump vs Bloomberg we will have two racist Billionaires vying for power, cementing or oligarchy for good. Turning back from this will be almost impossible and our veil of democracy will be lifted and America as we know it will be dead.
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A repentant billionaire sociopath, confusing notoriety with popularity, surrounded by glad handing sycophants is mindful of a late empire despot, buying support in every quarter to remain in power.
No Bloomberg. We don't want the best president money can buy.
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Basically, this column says if Bloomberg is the nominee, don’t vote for him. Egregious as Bloomberg’s was with stop and frisk, he’s still far preferable to Trump. We don’t always get what we want when we want it, Mr. Blow.
What is going on? The overwhelming Times "picks" were against Bloomberg. Those few which supported him had a very high number of recommendations...but, when I tried to "recommend" the letters from the supporters, the number of "recommendations" decreased rather than increased. Something is rotten in Denmark.
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Blow get over already. Bloomberg will be a great president. I’m looking forward to supporting him.
By the way I think his stop and frisk policies were justified and should be actively implemented today. More police presence in the NYC subway is needed.
NYC is the only major city in the world that allows crime to spread and go unpunished in their subway system.
We're voting for the 2020 version of the candidates. I would appreciate it if the NYT could publish more policy analysis, so we understand the implications of candidate policy differences. The would be more useful than opinions and endless critiques.
1
Stop and frisk was wrong and needed to end. But the issue of whether it saved lives far murkier than it is described in Mr. Blow's column. That has to be considered before you blithely call Bloomberg a racist. Especially when those policies received support in the black and Latino communities.
With all that said, a persuasive argument can be made that Bloomberg is the best situated to defeat the President. Money is simply too important in a race where the President is averaging about $60 million a month in contributions. And when Mr. Blow complains that Bloomberg is a master of emotional manipulation, I say "good!". You need one to go up against one.
Bloomberg is a liar and an admitted racist, AND he defied the rule of law to get himself an illegal 3rd term as Mayor. NOT presidential material, IMO.
It astonishes me how voters forget that the president is elected to SERVE the country and its citizens - to serve ALL its citizens, no matter their skin color, religious beliefs, or ethnic background, etc.
Does anyone really believe Bloomberg would have made his 'apology' for stop-and-frisk if he weren't planning to run for president?
Does anyone really believe Bloomberg would like to become president in order SERVE the people?
Bloomberg has no intention of serving anything other than his own ego. He wants power and prestige, and he's a stubborn man who wants what he wants, with no back-talk or disagreement. We already have Trump in the White House, doing exactly that.
I wouldn't vote for Bloomberg for dog-catcher.
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Yes it can...and should.
He apologized. Which is more than we can say about Trump, who doubles-down on every nasty thing he says instead of ever apologizing.
Can we please be pragmatic in 2020?!
Thank you for exposing his racist view of young men of color. The current "hatred" and distrust of NYC Police has its origins in Bloomberg's policy. He has done enormous harm to the minority community and the NYC Police Department. Now he intends to buy the nomination.
2
If you don't like Bloomberg, then you and everyone else needs to get behind Biden, because Sanders will not be supported by the majority of Democratic moderates and independents. A
He who is without sin may cast the first stone.
I have no doubt that Charles Blow has said or done some rather dumb things in his past. Yet with zealous fervor bordering on the obsessional,Mr Blow has clearly made stop and search his personal crusade.There are those who thought this policy was effective.There are many who did not.Yet Blow carries on regardless as though this single matter is the only matter of importance in the Bloomberg campaign to potential Democratic supporters. Clearly this is far from the truth.
As with all candidates, one should take the collective whole of the person to decide if they are worthy of support. Bloomberg has apologized and admitted his error. What more can he do? He has many other outstanding qualities which taken as a whole, tick far more boxes than any other Democratic candidate.Despite the other candidates having many qualities of their own, he is clearly the one candidate that has a serious and best chance of beating the present incumbent of the White House, never mind being the only candidate who can look Trump in the eye and say,I'm everything you hope ( but failed) to be.He has a proven business and political record, is a fervent believer in climate change and gun control and is ready willing and able to stand up to the powerful lobby groups which plague Washington.In short his positives far out weigh his negative.
Blow should know this and as a journalist should really see and recognize the bigger picture.
Stay outraged and it will re-elect trump. echoes of Ralph Nader.
He feels like the Trojan Horse candidate, in my opinion. If we let him in, we will watch him make the Democratic party implode (again), and voila... Don the Con wins again.
We cannot afford this.
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Charles, thanks for all your great columns. It's impossible to be the mayor of a large city for 12 years and not make mistakes or upset people. Stop and Frisk, a policy which hurt young black men was wrong. Mike apologized for it. Imagine that, a leader who apologizes when he gets things wrong. Mike is serious about fighting racial inequalities. To see where Mike stands on social and economic justice for African Americans watch his Greenwood speech https://youtu.be/BxO-ZO7J5rQ . I was blown away when I watched it as I believe you will be too. I believe Mike Bloomberg will do more for African Americans than other candidate. When you watch the speech you just get this sense that he he is awake, informed and fired up to help right centuries of wrong.
Bloomberg sent police where the stats showed crime. Did a mother in those neighborhoods what their son shot by a gang member or drug dealer? Is Charles denying violence in those neighborhoods? Has he done the research to know what he is talking about? What was Charles's plan at the time. Do you really think Bloomberg is a racist given the life he has lived, the company he has built, the philanthropy he has done and is doing in communities across the country? This is not an ego trip for him. I think he is a patriot for spending his own money to beat DT who treatens the fabric of our democratic society. Lets see Charles write about the good MB has done.
2
Perhaps Bloomberg should be stopped by (by the press) and frisked (closely, invasively questions) about how he managed to make so much money. Anybody that obscenely rich must have a hidden crime somewhere.
1
Throw kids against the wall?
Sounds like another Oscar nomination for the "White Male Rage" genre, but not the Democratic nominee for the Presidency. And then, there's that thing about campaigning as, being elected to office as, and serving as a Republican.
Is there a Central Park shrine dedicated to Michael Bloomberg's immolation that we don't know about.. for his ultimate protest of his party's ultimate lie --- "Pre-existing conditions are covered".
Mr Blow's recounting is really all that we need to predict the disunity of spirit arising from a Bloomberg nomination. Remember, too, Trump and his House/Senate/Judicial Toadies ARE 100-PERCENT AGAINST Obamacare and any derivative. Are we tying our future healthcare to a billionaire who believes that he can re-shape Republicans or will Bloomberg revert in compromise?
The People who want legitimate universal healthcare -- either get bold in all November 3rd contests -- or they get played, again.
If the Democratic convention is a contested one, my bet is that Bloomberg will take it as the splintered moderate wing swings toward him. So then, Mr. Blow, the choice will be yours: the devil you know but who has repented versus the devil you know who doubles down. I think you'll swallow hard and pull the lever for the guy who stopped and frisked, as I will.
I am tired of this circular firing squad with armed purists. Sanders gets the nomination, I am voting for him. Bloomberg gets the nomination, I am voting for him. Mfr. Blow is obviously in the minority in New York City because Bloomberg was elected three times. I am tired of this circular firing squad with armed purists. Sanders gets the nomination, I am voting for him. Bloomberg gets the nomination, I am voting for him. Mr. Blow is obviously in the minority in New York City because Bloomberg was elected three times. He has not tacked right since leaving that job. Not my first choice but Bloomberg is a choice most people, in and out of NYC, can live with.
It may have been humiliating to be stopped and frisked to many innocent people of color, but if it has helped to bring down violent offenses, it's not that bad.
For instance NYC had about 2,000 murders annually in the 1990s. Now the murder rate is a little over 300 annually. Stop & frisk must have had a definite role in it. True, since the practice of S&F was stopped, the murder rate did not go up.
Jill Leovy writes in her 2015 bestseller book Ghettoside, "Homicide had ravaged the country's black population for a century or more. But it was at best a curiosity to the mainstream. The raw agony it visited thousands of ordinary people was mostly invisible." She discussed it on "Fresh Air" https://freshairarchive.org/segments/ghettoside-explores-why-murders-are-invisible-los-angeles You would be moved if you listen to it.
You may have heard of the "Ferguson effect." It means when police patrol is reduced the violent crime rate rises in inner city areas. The reason being the offenders know they can get away with their offenses.
2
Simple test: How many African Americans are employed at Bloomberg? Better yet, how many in mid-Senior positions? You won't need 2 hands vs. the 1000s employed. Actions, not words is what matters.
2
If it takes Bloomberg to defeat despicable Dumpty, then this is an easy choice. Clearly the much lesser of evil.
1
I really respect Mr. Blow. I feel the pain in the opinion column and I understand it. I’m also going to vote for Mr. Bloomberg. It seems that wherever I go, I’m meeting black and brown people who are supporting Mike Bloomberg because they have seen the investments he has made over long periods of time in their communities and on issues that make lives better. I hope and pray that if Michael Bloomberg becomes president, that he will make Mr. Blow proud. Charles Blow, you are a national treasure and an important voice. It pains me to not heed your advice. Mike Bloomberg, I am putting my trust in you that you will not repeat mistakes like stop and frisk. Please do not disappoint me.
For those of you who supported stop and frisk I’m happy if your safety was enhanced when my 12 year old on his way to a school outing was jacked up by the cops. He was then driven around in a paddy wagon for most of the day and eventually dumped on the street in an unknown and ungentrified neighborhood. On the plus side the cop made his quota for the day. Silly me, I didn’t know until then that constitutional rights were optional.
128
As to stop-and-frisk, Bloomberg has admitted his racist tendencies - and look at how long it took him to own up to, and then apologize for, that.
He ALSO defied the rule of law to get himself an illegal 3rd term as Mayor. NOT presidential material, IMO.
It astonishes me that voters forget the president is elected to SERVE the country and its citizens - to serve ALL its citizens, no matter their skin color, religious beliefs, or ethnic background, etc.
Does anyone really believe Bloomberg would have made his apology for stop-and-frisk if he weren't planning to run for president?
Does anyone really believe Bloomberg would like to become president in order SERVE the people?
Bloomberg has no intention of serving anything other than his own ego. He wants power & prestige, and he's a stubborn man who wants what he wants, with no back-talk or disagreement. And we already have Trump in the White House, doing exactly that!
21
I completely agree with Mr. Blow. Bloomberg led a terrible policy, it hurt a lot of people for no reason, and he should make amends to the people he damaged. Young men of color dealt with the humiliation of being stopped and the fear that they might be shot, even though many cops are good people. I was not satisfied with the statement from one of his representatives either.
Despite all this, I wrote comments to this very paper supporting his candidacy and even wrote to his campaign and said I would work for them and sent them ideas for their campaign. Why? Because I am terrified.
Bloomberg is a person of reason, even if his opinions are not my own. Also, the DNC has messed up once again and the resulting situation is dangerous. They could have spent three years sending people around this country to talk about WH corruption. They could have talked about election security. They could have told Democrats to get off facebook so their data wouldn’t be harvested. They should told Joe Biden to drop out the moment this Ukraine smear started. They should have told candidates to keep it easy and simple on health care.
But it’s too late for all that now. We need someone who is tough, can fight the disinformation machine, has clout on Wall St, won’t scare moderate Republicans & who won’t be opposed by the military. I’m voting for Bloomberg because he can win & be reasonable. We need to get this sociopath out of the WH because he won’t leave of his own accord.
32
I am a middle-aged white liberal in Detroit and I was enraged by the stop and frisk policy when it was implemented and I am even more enraged by Mr. Bloomberg's so-called candidacy. How dare he use his money to attempt to erase his naked racism and imagine for one minute that those of us in the Democratic party who value justice and equality would vote for him.
17
The stop-and-frisk policy started under Giuliani was wrong, and it was wrong of Bloomberg to continue it. At the time I supported the policy even if it was controversial. There is no doubt it brought down crime rates in NYC. That doesn't mean it still wasn't wrong. It was. However, I can make a crisp argument that NYC is a safer town now because of the policy. It helped change the culture of the city. Likewise, my heart and soul go out to the victims of this policy. Being white, I can only imagine how unfair it was for innocent minorities to be swept up in the many injustices caused by this policy. Good for Mr. Bloomberg for unequivocally apologizing.
16
I can feel the emotion in everyone's response. Just about all of the pro's and con's of Mike Bloomberg for President have been exposed.
If Bloomberg wants this position so badly that he is willing to spend up to $2 Billion dollars of his personal fortune, then is he willing to identify his vice president and cabinet member selections before super tuesday?
Is Bloomberg willing to detail his administration's policies and programs that will be pursued and the timing of those efforts?
Is Bloomberg willing to detail the exact Trump administration policies and programs that he will terminate? Which programs and policies will be modified and in which way?
What specific commitments is Bloomberg willing to make now with regard to climate change, income & wealth inequality, racial discrimination, NATO, infrastructure, health care, social security, medicare, medicaid, budget priorities?
Now is the time to demand specific commitments from Bloomberg in order to undo the impact of the Trump administration, restore democratic norms and put the country back into the leadership role the U.S. has earned.
6
" If Democrats cast aside all of these candidates in favor of Bloomberg and his wealth, I fear they will be making it harder to defeat Trump in November. "
So does that mean that your desire to see Trump defeated conditional?
5
No argument with Mr Blow's articulate point, or the anguish of Black New Yorkers over it. But we may be fast approaching the unthinkable choice: Trump or Bloomberg? Not defending Bloomberg's policy here, but we must ask ourselves who is the lesser danger to the survival of the Republic - intact! - as we know it. Do I endorse either candidate as a first choice? No. Do I think Bloomberg constitutes a far lesser danger to the rule of American law, given the sickening vindictiveness, interference and power-grab coming from Trump since his acquittal? Yes.
17
"Throw them against a wall and frisk them" - Michael R. Bloomberg
Bears repeating because if you have a presidential candidate speaking in those explicit racial terms when he was mayor, what policies would he enact as President?
This former Republican would be no different than Trump. Some would say worse. He's a very smart man with unlimited resources AND HIS OWN NETWORK OF NEWS AND FINANCIAL OUTLETS which would be perfect for national propaganda.
The perfect tools for an authoritarian in the making.
No thanks.
9
I don't have any special love for the patently egotistical Bloomberg, but if he is the best candidate to take on Trump, the Democrats should nominate him. The good of the country demands it. And the rest of the Democratic field should back the nominee 100%.
18
Mr. Blow fails to mention that Bloomberg called the NYPD "my own army" and acted upon it. This is the type of line from a dystopian film and yet it was a real life horror show for so many people.
Bloomberg didn't just make the statement, but used the NYPD as an army of agents fulfilling his personal agenda.
Many of the quotes I've read attributed to Bloomberg paint the picture of a sociopath and not someone who represents any values of America (aside from greed).
7
Depressing, reading all of these ends-justify-the-means rationalizations for Bloomberg.
I'm also amused that Bloomberg has extended his bribes to the members of Tribe. He's offering to pay $150 for pro-Bloomberg posts by these "micro influencers." The irony is that this bantam phony is going up against the most authentic candidate we've had in my lifetime.
I'd SMH except at this point, I'm risking concussion.
5
Let me lay it out for you Charles -
1.) Bernie Sanders will not win the presidency in 2020. If you think the voters in the red states that leaned for Trump in 2016 are going to flip from MAGA to Democratic (pure?) Socialism in 2020, you do not have your pulse on reality. Bernie could win the popular vote but the numbers just don’t lead to an electoral college win.
2.) Let’s imagine that Bernie does win. What do you think is going to happen? Do you think any of his legislation is going to actually pass? I don’t. I don’t think the Republican Senate will let a single thing pass. And guess what is going to happen in 2 years time? The fickle American voter is going to change course and vote the House back to the Republicans.
3.) Nominating a populist against a populist is not going to work. The divisions in this country are not going to heal. We will remain as divided as ever. There will be no return of civility and only a steady march toward Civil Revolt.
If Revolution is your aim then at least have the courage to say it. I get it. If you’re anti-SAF, then why would you ever want to return to “normalcy,” because normalcy is a reality in which you are stopped and frisked.
But if presented with two choices: 1.) Deliver the vote to Bloomberg and negotiate a seat at the table to redefine normalcy or 2.) Suffer 4 more years of Trump, a man who sits at a table of only one, how could you possibly choose option 2.
I fear there will be no coming back from 4 more years of Trump.
27
Thank you for this reminder of how a former Republican governed New York through a reign of terror against young men of color, the one safe group to target from his poll-driven perspective. I was myself stopped and questioned by cops in an unmarked car for a pretextual reason when I stepped out of my car to visit my brother in the city during the Bloomberg years. But I am a white male and that was the exception. Targeting young black and Latino males was Bloomberg's M.O. When they say that we need a moderate like Bloomberg who gets things done, we need to review just what that means, whether it is a wrongful, racist conviction in Minnesota under Klobuchar, a racialized police force in South Bend under Buttigieg, or stop and frisk in New York under Bloomberg, we need to examine just what kind of political bedfellows we want.
2
All salient points, but if Bloomberg becomes the remaining option to Trump, and the black community rejects that option, they'll be making the same bargain with their ideals that the Bernie Bros made in 2016—but with much higher consequences for themselves and their children. Now more than ever, we shouldn't allow perfect to become the enemy of anything better.
10
I understand the fear of Trump winning but do we really need a Republican to lead the Democratic Party? Please anyone but Bloomberg.
5
Yet another purity test. Based on a policy that actually reduced crime.
8
Once again thank you Charles for stating the truth. There are two people I refuse to vote for if they win the Democratic nomination.
They are Michael Bloomberg and Joe Biden. I have my limits.
Mike
4
Awesome. Trump wins. But, hey, limits protected.
Charles, it’s rare that I disagree with you in principle but I would hesitate to describe the current list of Democratic candidates as fascinating. There’s no way this country is going to elect a socialist for president. We are so insanely tax averse that we have let ourselves be maneuvered into a situation where the Republicans are positioning themselves for a wholesale assault on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. And even if Sanders was elected do you really believe that the Senate is going to welcome him with open arms? The 2020 election will be decided by the Electoral College not the popular vote which will be in favor of a Democrat once again. It’s said that a Democrat can’t win without the black vote. Maybe Bloomberg can’t get the black vote which would be something that should be considered but in comparison to Trump, to me there’s no contest. Anything with a pulse is better than our current Imbecile in Chief including any of the current candidates but at least pick somebody with a realistic chance in some red or swing states.
8
Most people don’t care about this. They only want someone sane to defeat Trump.
13
I'm sorry, but does anyone really believe that law abiding people in black and brown neighborhoods were upset that the police had a high presence level. They were the ones being protected.
17
Once I respected Blow and his opinions. I no longer do. Tom Friedman is right about Bloomberg. Charles Blow is vengeful and wrong. I will no longer waste time reading his column.
19
Please advise if you actually live in a dangerous NYC neighborhood...even now, the crime and assaults are frightening, and people know this is true. Nevertheless, Bloomberg has championed blacks and others supporting gun legislation who were in need of financial help for their political campaigns, students of all races receiving free tuition due to the largest donation ever made to a college fund for that purpose! What exactly have you done to compare????
1
Mr. Blow, love your opinion pieces; consistently thoughtful, honest and direct. This one is, as well and you would likely have been remiss had you not written it. However, you and I will take Mr. Bloomberg over Trump every day. Admittedly, Bloomberg's imposition of stop and frisk was an over-reach and did harm to many. It was a mistake; he was anxious to fight crime and protect all neighborhoods in the City - not the least of which are the poor ones. Bloomberg has done a lot of good, he has a major nationwide plan to address poverty and unemployment for blacks and minorities as President. He has brains, commitment and resources to beat Trump. He's not perfect and none of the candidates are. But, he's running to take our country back and he's putting up his money to do it. He can beat Trump, return us to decency, and assemble a working Cabinet and Administration that aggressively addresses our many challenges. I ask that you write an opinion piece that exposes what he commits to boost the economy, health, welfare and safety of the poor, working-and what's left of the middle-class. Help us beat Trump.
20
Who would you prefer, Mr. Blow? Michael Bloomberg or Donald Trump?
20
Mr. Blow....you are just helping Donald Trump. Concentrate your ire on him.
16
We don't need another rich racist in the White House.
4
The weight of comments on this piece is frankly shocking. Bloomberg is an authoritarian racist, and the tone of his supporters here - which basically is “suck it up black folks for the good of the country” is in itself authoritarian. I will not support (not that it matters, I don’t have a vote) replacing one authoritarian billionaire by another one.
3
Don't be an idiot: forget it.
Bloomberg is the only one who can take down Trump.
19
Charles M. Blow, I am in love with you.
Echoes of Maureen Dowd’s jihad against Hilary, and we all know how that turned out...
16
Charles, you need to work out your bitterness with Bloomberg in a meeting to air out your feelings. I am a 42 yr old black NY'er and I am voting for Bloomberg. He apologized and you need to stop using the NY Times as your therapy platform for your anger against Bloomberg. He's better than Trump and that is who I want out. When is your next article coming out about Trump?
21
Mr. Blow, would your next article about Bloomberg be about how creepy he is toward women?
3
Mr. Blow, with due respect - get a grip. We can debate the merits/evils of stop and frisk - there are clearly both. Your stance spins the data and ignores that 10% of those stopped and frisked DID violate the law, many involving concealed weapons. This undoubtedly saved lives of innocent people of all colors. Mike Bloomberg has (unlike Trump) the emotional and intellectual integrity to express regrets at a policy he once backed. We need Mike to save our democracy, so let go, move on and stop hindering him!
26
Thank you for this piece.
Democrats need to calm down and join together to back one pragmatic (aka "centrist" candidate) Pete or Amy would be great as president. Be we must coalesce around one of them or we'll end up with Bernie (see new gallup poll where majority of Americans said they won't support a socialist.
We can't sell our Democratic soul to Bloomberg. Bloomberg said that even if her weren't the nominee, he would still back and spend on behalf of the Democratic nominee to help oust Trump. Let's take the help/money and not the man.
2
I am not a New Yorker, but I've read lots from both sides and I have to say this: Stop and Frisk is not a binary issue. It did drastically decrease crime in NYC-- an indisputable good thing. It also went on too long and gave way to reckless police behavior and racial profiling--a categorically bad thing. It's not this or that--it's this AND that. What I admire about Mike Bloomberg is that he has clearly stated that he was wrong to let Stop and Frisk go on too long. And reporters don't have to needle him about it--he brings it up voluntarily, as he did in Tulsa, OK when he rolled out his plans for The Greenwood Initiative--his very clear, realistic and methodical plan for achieving economic justice for Black Americans. As a Bloomberg supporter, I find it quite encouraging that Stop and Frisk, a policy that he didn't even create, is the worst claim the opposition can lob against him. You want change, don't you? Then move forward. It's hard to see where you're headed when looking in the rearview mirror.
14
Mr. Blow, you are one of the few journalists brave enough to criticize Bloomberg. Most of your colleagues fear they might be working for his news outlet one day and are fulsome in their praise of him.
Bloomberg also sucked the democracy out of the public school system and ran it like a fiefdom. (It yielded no improvement.) Like Trump, he is willing to use democracy to establish himself as a dictator.
Bloomberg seeks to privatize our public institutions so they, too, can be run outside of democracy. New York City lost libraries and St. Vincent's Hospital under Bloomberg.
Bloomberg is a scary man but to New Yorkers he initially looked reasonable after Guilliani and would look reasonable after Trump but that is just a matter of style, not substance.
4
Bloomberg screwed up with stop and frisk for sure, but unlike Trump he is capable of learning and growing.
Bloomberg has given billions to charity, and has pledged to spend 1 billion to defeat Trump no matter who the Democratic nominee is.
Bloomberg used public office for a lot of good, and I have not heard of the countless ethics investigations and concerns we have with Trump – I acknowledge the Stop and Frisk debacle.
Trump has used his 'charities' to grift from, and have full size portraits of his orange-ness painted.
Trump has used his public office to grift, corrupt, lie, cheat, threaten, and enrich himself and his brainwashed children.
The Dem primary has a ways to go. Bloomberg will either be rejected or accepted or somewhere in between.
Maybe elections are truly the choice of the lesser of two evils.
I will absolutely choose the Democratic Nominee over Trump, who is the most dangerous POTUS in history.
And yes Bernie supporters, I will vote for him, although I hope he is not the nominee.
The pendulum in this country is dangerously far to one side, and I fear Bernie's agenda will only swing it almost as far to the other side.
I don't know if the country can withstand the shock waves.
8
I'm not defending stop and frisk. If I were Black or Hispanic or Asian targeted by police I'd be outraged also. But I did live in Manhattan in the '80s and '90s and was the victim of multiple break-ins, and car vandalism. The streets were dangerous and filthy. In my estimation drugs were the underlying problem.
In 1979 1,733 murders, 1,814 in 1980, 1,905 1989, and 2,245 in 1990 just in NYC. Between 1981 and 1988 wasn't much better. But if you're in charge of public safety you'd probably do all in your power to stop the carnage. The policy may have not just been illegal and ineffective but desperate people resort to desperate measures.
Did it matter that minorities were probably victimized far more than those who could live in safer, more affluent neighborhoods? Over-policing vs under-policing?
Which brings us to 2020. The person in the White House is a danger to the country and to all citizens. Bloomberg may have come too late to realize that stop and frisk wasn't effective. But he isn't crazy, and he isn't a racist. Choosing Bloomberg over Trump shouldn't be a difficult choice. Frankly, I'd take almost anyone over Trump, but Bloomberg is the one person who won't frighten independents, the wealthy, the poor and anyone in between. Now is the time to bury wounds and pray Trump is a one term nightmare.
12
@woollfy1a , if BLow doesn't realize this, we surely are doomed. How can these so-called profesional journalists not understand the big picture, but rather choose to opine about issues that are essentially irrelevant within the larger context.
Surely Blow realizes that the entire Congress needs to approve any law promoted by POTUS, so he clearly must know that Bloomberg isn't going be able to pull any racist moves on America, even if he wanted to!
These journalist really get me angry. It's one reason I'm now reading WP more than NYT.
Come on! This is about regaining control of the senate. Who the democrats nominate for 2020 will set the vision and course for democratic races everywhere--and possibly win back the White House. Then we overturn Citizens United, and we no longer need a billionaire spending his own money in order to get elected as a democrat. Next up, regaining seats in the senate, protecting our elections, stopping voter suppression and gerrymandering, and much more. Bloomberg is viable and capable. Maybe he can decriminalize marijuana nationally, and wipe the slate clean for everyone who went to prison for using/selling it.
11
I'm Asian American. FDR signed the executive order imprisoning Japanese Americans during World War II, a decision for which Congress and the Supreme Court eventually apologized.
I'd vote for FDR over Trump in a New York minute.
15
I like Mr. Blow and his comments.
I have seen stop and frisk first hand - seen, not experienced - and found it disturbing and frightening, and the attitude of the cops almost fascist.
The Republicans are a solid block of 35-40% - which will never NOT vote Republican. The Democrats are - at best - a large coalition under one umbrella.
Our nation would be better served with a multiple party parliamentary system. We could then form coalitions between centrists and leftists, for example - and each side would know what they are getting and what they are giving up by this arrangement. In our system, we do not know if and what policies a Democrat might deliver, because the tent is so large.
But the Founding Fathers imperfect musings are seen as the bible now. Therefor we must have a two party system. And nothing else.
(George Washington warned of political parties altogether.)
@CitizenTM, all good points...but completely irrelevant to the coming election!!!
Put the past behind us and vote for the guy who's best fit to displace Trump. Bloomberg is by far the most solid candidate we have, so it makes no sense at all to dwell on this past transgression since he's acknowledged the mistake and apologized for it.
Now is not the time to expect him to walk down the street naked as he whips himself in atonement. We have far bigger fish to fry at this juncture. Or does Blow think Trump is treating him better than Bloomberg will?!
You may be conflating "racist" with "racialist." Sure, the optics are not very flattering. But Bloomberg's approach regarding the profiling of young men of color in these neighborhoods was not entirely unfounded - there were no gangs of white, Jewish or Asian people terrorizing neighborhoods with gun violence. If anything, you can applaud the fact that he had the courage to tell the inconvenient truth, even if it was not exactly politically correct. That being said, the stop and frisk policy itself may overreached, even though it had some degree of effectiveness. I don't think it was based on racial animus; rather, it seemed like the least evil approach to dealing with a gun violence epidemic that was raging out of control. Some context is very necessary to understand why he did this.
12
Very sorry to say it, but stop and frisk a decade or more ago vs. four more years of Trump? That's a very easy trade off.
10
Trump has been vocal-see the videos-in his support of stop and frisk. So if it comes down to Trump and Bloomberg that argument will be a wash. Mr. Bloomberg isn't a one issue guy and he's admitted his mistake. I would ask you, Mr. Blow, where is most of the crime in any city, who commits the crimes, who are the victims of the crimes? And finally, what do you think should be done about it? How about you use your knowledge and intellect to come up with some viable solutions you can offer to our legislators.
5
Not a politically correct comment here. "...race matters when it comes to urban violence," according to the book, Bleeding Out, and national statistics. "In 2018, where the homicide victim was black, the suspected killer was 88% ...," also black. High rates of black-on-black killings have been the norm for more than a century in urban areas, i.e., Chicago, New York Baltimore and other cities. We cannot discard the race issue. This is a black-on-black phenomenon.
I get frisked at least 6 times a year. I travel by plane and seem to set off the buzzer. I'm a suspect each time I go into the line, and the frisk is no fun. It's an invasion of my privacy, a physical invasion of my body. It's something I must endure, for the safety or all. I will not debate the trauma or it's affects. I would think the same for the victims of stop and frisk, and more so.
The stop and frisk policy was an attempt to staunch the bleeding. Whether it worked or not, it was badly formulated. That Bloomberg tried this approach was an attempt to implement something that might have prevented black murders.
The current president is, putting people in
cages, calling white supremists fine people, and had a policy of not renting to black people.
I'd not equate trying to prevent murders, with the above. Mr. Blow may be using his column to hurt the one
person who may be able to beat Trump. Bloomberg is not a racist, look to his charities and issues, and causes, to know the man.
6
Charles,
You make several good and principled points.
As a progressive Dem I find the goals of the spectrum of Democratic nominees as worthy and necessary. And our democracy is in a state of emergency. It isn't realistic to expect enough people to vote for Democratic Socialism in this environment.
Therefore it's tempting to me to think Bloomberg could help right the ship so to speak. Would the stability enhance the possibility of the real change, healthcare, gun control as public health concern... our country needs?
I would be more convinced about Bloomberg if he would assure his choice of VP would include someone more progressive than him.
Being wealthy doesn't disqualify Bloomberg. FDR was wealthy and did considerable good for the US. FDR also imprisoned Japanese Americans, including citizens, during WW 2. The good doesn't excuse wrong doing. This example represents for me the complexity, the damage and the just, of our democracy which continues to unfold.
At this point I am still thinking about Bloomberg as a possibility.
6
Then why is it that, among the candidates, Bloomberg trails only Joe Biden in popularity among black voters?
3
The Democratic Trump.
Bloomberg's intention was to reduce crime and save black lives.Failure to do whatever would protect the lives of people of color would truly be racist.
9
Mr. Blow,
Once again you are "blowing" the wrong way. Right now, the ONLY thing that matters is who can get Trump out of office.
9
thank you. finally a pithy comment expressing the sentiment of many. so frustrating to read these *eggshell* comments while the other side smashes them...
Most people accept Bill Bratton as one of, if not the, most thoughtful policeman of the past generation or two. Here's what he said about stop and frisk:
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2014/02/25/bill-bratton-nypd
Charles, get over it. If Bloomberg can beat trump it's all that matters. I completely understand the anger over the S&F program but moral purity is not a requirement to replace the most immoral dirtbag to occupy White House in my lifetime.
12
I do not think mr blow or nyt realizes just how much they are helping DJT in his endeavors. people I argue with point to these articles and say the dems are just as bad.. and why shouldn't they... it sounds like MB is worse than DJT because of 1 policy decision he made and we dare not forget or forgive lest our democracy may be jeopardized. great job.
"His racist stop-and-frisk policy as New York mayor can’t be forgotten." Oh yes it certainly can Mr. Blow. And it's called Trump!
Michael Bloomberg is gaining momentum. He is the ONLY ONE who can beat Trump. Unless you want FOUR MORE YEARS of Trump, I suggest you ignore Michael Bloomberg until this election is over if you can't help him win the nomination.
7
Stop and frisk isn't unconstitutional because of it's racial bias (though that is a problem). It's unconstitutional because you don't get to search people without probable cause.
The government has no right to stop and search citizens without probable cause that they are committing a crime (say they are climbing out of a broken window with a TV).
Stop and Frisk, DUI checkpoints, license plate readers, etc are all unconstitutional because of the 4th amendment, which is properly interpreted protects us from the police/surveillance state that so many on the left and right keep lobbying for.
Bloomberg will not beat Trump.
Most likely, won't get the nomination.
And if he does - bernie will be so angry (well, angrier) that he might run independently.
OR - Bloomberg, if he doesn't get the nomination, run independently.
In either scenario - Our President gets reelected.
Well, regardless - our President will be reelected. And the Dem know this just like thye knew he was not going to be impeached.
Awesome!
1
different times and place
he is a economically conservative and socially liberal and the ONLY candidate who can sway the independents like me and the ONLY ONE WHO CAN BEAT TRUMP.
I was willing to forgive Joe Biden for Anita hill but he has failed as a candidate. Thjere is no perfect candidate but he can win so get over it Charles.
10
This is my second comment on this piece. I want to put things in perspective, at the very least, my perspective.
Any kind of purity test, whether it involves a crime-fighting policy that disproportionately affected black men, or whether it involves supporting (or not supporting) Medicare-for-All, what-ever. It pales to the point of invisibility compared to what we are facing now. We have a president who thinks he has no boundaries, that he can do whatever he wants. How long before he drives Amazon out of business? How long before he puts Hillary Clinton on trial for some fudged-up right wing conspiracy theory?
We are in the midst of a five-alarm fire. Never mind how the firefighters are dressed or what kind of shoes they are wearing. Just put out the fire.
The only thing that matters is 270 Electoral College votes in November. That's what matters. Nothing else until then.
15
If he gets the nomination, I will hold my nose and vote for him. If he doesn't get the nomination, the nominee should accept any assistance he offers. Nobody is without faults, but only one candidate--the incumbent--has no redeeming virtues. So that must be the basis of how we choose to vote and actually vote in November.
11
Thank you, Charles Blow, for making Bloomberg's past record clear. I am from the West and was thinking "maybe it would take money to fight money", but with your clarity, I now know better. I will not open this door to more pain. I will support better moderate candidates and we will win with our caring candidate. Cheers for Care and Truth.
3
a caring moderate will not beat DJT in the general unless he/she has some guts which most candidates appear to be severely lacking do to the insane standards set by the PC police
1
The Democrats cannot win without bringing Sanders’ supporters into the fold. They wouldn’t and didn’t support Hillary and I seriously doubt they will support an elitist billionaire/on and off again Republican like Bloomberg. The younger generation doesn’t want a restoration of what was- they are demanding an entirely new way of governing.
5
don't you think that if Sanders does noe win the nomination that it is his duty to bring his supporters to the polls and vote up and down ballot Democratic? I do and unfortunately I don't believe Sanders will deliver those votes and that is why I can't behind him. To me, he shares characteristics with tRump, including hte fevor of his supporters. I do not want a cult figure as president now or ever.
3
You’re correct. It can’t be forgotten.
Can it be forgiven?
I won’t try to be the judge here. Mr. Bloomberg has apologized. He has undertaken many philanthropic initiatives, at least some of which provide benefits to African Americans. That doesn’t excuse him, but has he learned a lesson? Will he repeat those offenses?
Put Mr. Bloomberg and trump on a balance scale of sins, adjusted by corrective actions. Which one is heavier with sin?
If the choice ends up being Mike vs trump, I’ll take Mike every time despite his mistakes. I think he will do a better job looking after Americans.
21
There were many among New York City's leadership and citizens alike who supported "Stop and Frisk," not just Bloomberg. Who could argue with the goal of taking guns off the streets and making neighborhoods safer? In practice the tactic was abused, lost support and was ended.
Bloomberg has promoted and put his money behind other gun control and gun safety measures. The gun lobby has no love for him.
Bloomberg has many progressive credentials and has put his name and money behind progressive initiatives.
It's a mistake to be be making an uncompromising attack on Bloomberg, a man who might be the one to save us from four more years of Trump.
11
Everybody seems to forget that we have three former mayors in this race. Bloomberg is not my top choice for the Democratic nomination because I didn't care for certain of his mayoral policies, with stop and frisk being particularly odious. I didn't live there, I didn't visit too often, I was never stopped and frisked... and that's not the point, because it *did* hurt a lot of people. I don't have to know them to be outraged over their poor treatment.
Buttigieg is not my top choice for the Democratic nomination because he is too centrist. There. I've said it.
My choice for a former mayor is one Bernard Sanders. A point to ponder: of all of the former mayors in this race, he is the one most beloved by the city he ran for his work as mayor.
Will I vote for any of the three if they are the nominee? Yes, because any of them would be preferable losing the USA to Trumpmerica. I'm really, really hoping for Bernie, though.
4
There are rare times when a looming threat to free societies are so substantial it’s necessary to ally with those you deeply disagree with in order to defeat tyrannical evil. Recall WW II
The axis between Trump, Putin, and other tyrannical powers has made substantial progress in dismantling our democratic norms and institutions. The disinformation campaign they plan to hit Americans with between now and November 3, 2020, will leave Americans not knowing what side is up. If they win, we will probably forever lose the opportunity to restore our constitutional republic.
Charles Blow is right but we are also engaged in a war to maintain our constitutional republic for future generations.
Rather than sow division within the ranks of pro democracy side, I suggest uniting the broadest coalition possible, which includes people you even dislike.
That’s our only hope to winning this consequential war.
14
@MLB Bingo!
If he is the democratic nominee, I will have no doubts in voting for him, and if he has the best chance of winning over Jeeto over every other candidate, I will vote for him in the primaries as well because the risk of four more years outweighs any of my concerns about him. At least he is honest and says the right things. Arms control, global warming, and income disparities among many others. At least he is social conscious and smart.
9
This was a tragic moment. There were a lot of killings happening. This did reduce the number. However, it was a brutal policy. Bloomberg has apologized. There is a lot of good that Bloomberg has done, a great deal. This should also be recognized. Then you can made an informed decision.
8
I would rather have a well intentioned billionaire with strong, pragmatic beliefs who attacks the core issues he believes in, rather than every other political hack who plays to the politics of the moment and serves their donor masters.
16
If it becomes a choice between stinkers, one should remember that one is a greater stinker and vote accordingly.
If one decides that the greater stinker is Bloomberg, an abstention is a vote for Trump. Who has an administration full of stinkers. And they certainly have grand plans for the next four years.
If one decides that the greater stinker is Trump, and votes for Bloomberg, then Trump and his coterie of stinkers leave.
Not a good choice. But a clear one.
12
Bloomberg ,how quickly we forget ,endorsed and spoke at the Republican convention in support of GW Bush. Add this to his lack of support for the Central Park Five and stop and frisk, does he sound like a Democrat to you. Just imagine if stop and frisk targeted another community . Just maybe Epstein, Weinstein, Madoff, Sacklers might be off the streets. We don't need a billionaire buying another election.
341
@Mike kelly At least Bloomberg didn't call for the execution of the Central Park Five -- after they had been proven innocent. Trump did.
74
@Mike kelly Do you think mother's in inner city chicago would prefer Stop & Frisk or the constant fear of getting the call that her son was one of the 490 people that were murdered in 2019, or the fear that when she walks outside she will get hit with a bullet from one of the 2,139 shootings last year? I personally would take my son coming home embarrassed than coming home in a coffin.
78
@Mike kelly Bloomberg also spoke at the Democratic convention in 2016 in support of Hillary Clinton. And his has given enormous amounts of money to Democratic candidates (in 2018 for instance). Bloomberg may have been a member of the Republican Party; so was Nelson Rockefeller. The Republican Party then was not the Republican Party now.
82
One thought for those who find the very rich inherently evil, probably use Trump as their prototype. You do realize that the most revolutionary Presidents in terms on social safety nets and civil rights were Roosevelt and Kennedy, among the wealthiest families of their time. You also should realize that is not Trump’s wealth that has made him despicable, but his blatant racism, not just policy, but statements including those that encourage White Nationalism. Finally, for what civil causes did Trump use his wealth, none. His charitable contributions went to politicians. Bloomberg has set up foundations to help poorer people get better housing and education, been the money force behind the proliferation of guns, invested in environmental funds. In short, wealth does not equate to the same behavior as you currently find in the White House.
11
The majority of the very wealthy treat the working class as the enemy.
A few philanthropic billionaires do not make up for that.
I’m quite sure that president with the accomplishments of FDR would be possible without great wealth. The problem is that you need the wealth to get elected.
Kennedy was another matter. He was all rhetoric and accomplished almost nothing.
1
@Jerry Engelbach hm, his time for accomplishment was a bit truncated if i recall correctly....
1
It would be most unfortunate if every Democrat candidate running against Trump is criticized like this and compromised by the time he/she wins the nomination. Compared to Trump every one of them is better by leaps and bounds.
Criticism like this, even if justified, isn't going to produce a perfect candidate for all constituencies. It will only make Trump's job easier.
20
But there are people running who DID NOT defend such policies. Get my point?
Thanks for more op-ed that further divides the democrats through harsh criticism of each and every candidate who might have a chance at winning this thing. Thanks for helping Trump get re-elected.
25
Amen to that. Right you are.
Bloomberg is not "buying" the nomination. Voters still have to (figuratively) pull the lever for him, or he won't have the delegates.
This is the case whether a candidate uses his own money or other people's money.
18
It would be one thing if Bloomberg were still defending the policy, but he has admitted it was wrong and has apologized for it. To me, in this current political situation, that should be enough. We face a national emergency. We must deny Trump a second term.
28
It was horribly wrong and Bloomberg at least apologized, which Trump never would do. We cannot afford to divide the Democrats any further. We cannot afford another Trump term as president. He will make whatever the Democrats have done seem like childsplay.
Bloomberg has a lot to answer for in regards to his mayorship in NYC. Let's not forget that he changed NYC's Constitution so that he can have a third term.
I don't trust Bloomberg, he is Trump light and shouldn't be anywhere near this election. He needs to stay focus on his causes; he's good at that and continue to support the Democratic party if he chooses too. But entering the race at the halfway point is what a cheater does. What message does that send to the Democratic electorate, and to the American people over all.
Mike doesn't get it done!
9
There is no such thing as Trump lite. You need to carefully ponder what you you just said there.
Charles, I almost always agree with your columns in the NYT, but your assault on Mayor Bloomberg because of his policy of stop and frisk leaves me flabbergasted. If you're looking for a purist as a Democratic nominee, you won't find him or her. He has apologized for his poor judgment, something that Trump would never do.
I fear that Trump may be re-elected because of the disarray of the present Democratic candidates. I see it as a circular firing squad. Instead of focusing on beating Trump, they argue about how much better they are than their competitors. Mike Bloomberg has managed to stay out of the fray. He has the smarts and the money to take on the present administration. For the sake of our country I wish him well.
30
Bloomberg has no accomplishments except to have successfully bought himself a third term as mayor of the city I grew up in and mercifully left.
He’s a bloated shrimp next the grandeur of Sanders’ message.
i concur with this post completely and I guess my earlier post was too crass for these editors, but this comment reflects the frustration many feel. this paper needs to get with the times, it is not 2015 anymore, aka the year decency deceased being the norm and based on this opinion, it appears we will never get that back. Mr Blow and NYT might as well admit DJT was rt all along and he free to do as he pleases... which is what he will do anyway...
Will President Bloomberg be worse than President Trump for minorities not to mention everyone on our planet?
I think minority voters have a clear understanding of exactly what is at stake.
Priority number one; unifying behind any candidate opposing Trump and that helps defeat every Republican in Congress.
Bloomberg has personally given $300 Million, thus far, to defeat Trump and attack Republicans which we should recognize and appreciate.
Bloomberg even might get the few Republican's still capable of reason to vote for him.
We have to prioritize and unify or loose and get four more years of Trump.
16
The idea that a “gift” from Mike Bloomberg of $300 million that he’s spending to promote himself is something Democrats should reward or be thankful for is ludicrous. It’s a drop in the bucket. There’s $59.7 billion more where that came from. Vote for Warren and tax his wealth instead.
1
People need to be able to evolve. It’s up to each person to decide if the evolution is honest or just a politician saying whatever is necessary to get elected.
11
I wish you would stop this Charles. I've always loved your columns and respected your positions, but can't you see Bloomberg is the only candidate who might have a shot at beating Trump (and even that may be a long shot.) Read Coppin's article in the Atlantic if you haven't already. It's terrifying. Bloomberg is hardly my first choice, but I learned a long time ago that we can't always get what we want, and in this case I'll be more than happy to settle for getting what we need more than anything - namely to get rid of the current POTUS. Bloomberg will be a one-term president, who can hopefully start restoring some semblance of civility and honor to the country, after which we can start moving towards a more progressive candidate and agenda. Please be less emotional and more pragmatic.
33
@Lily
I agree McKay Coppins’ article in The Atlantic is chilling. Evidence of the disinformation campaign is abundant already in all media formats.
8
A LOT LESS EMOTIONAL PLEASE. As I read these comments, it's clear to me the dems have zero chance of beating the guy who is single handedly (well almost) dismantling our institutions while this side bickers over 1 misguided policy from almost a decade ago. to which he apologized! when was the last time you heard a politician apologize???
Bloomberg is a billionaire Republican. If you doubt this, watch his speech at the 2004 Republican Convention enthusiastically endorsing 4 more years of Bush & Cheney. This after W. and cronies poured gasoline on the Middle East and lit a match and before they went on to tank the world economy. Yes, Bloomberg talks a good game on climate change and guns. Tell me, which of the Democratic candidates does not? And does he seriously expect us to believe he is the candidate to fix income inequality?
7
@Steve
Bloomberg left the Republican Party in 2007, switched to an Independent until 2018 when he returned to being a Democrat. The Republican Party is now the Party of Trump.
My favorite line from Bloomberg’s speech at the 2016 Democratic convention, which called out Trump as a risky, reckless and radial choice:
“I’m a New Yorker, and New Yorkers know a con when we see one!”
We cannot afford four more years of Trump. Stop and think about that.
3
Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation that reduced sentences for drug convictions, and most of the beneficiaries were black.
Michael Bloomberg did millions of stops and frisks of blacks ostensibly looking for guns, found drugs, arrested them, and put them in jail.
So who is the racist?
6
They both are.
Trump has made his racism visible to the world since day one.
One signature won’t change that.
Bloomberg has the best chance to stop Trump. He has disavowed the policy,
Just like Bernie puriest stopped Hillary and helped Trump you would do the same.
If Trump gets another 4 years he will unleash police forces across the country on non whites. What a selfish agenda you have.
13
If the choice in November is Bloomberg or Trump, I take Bloomberg, warts and all. Blow can have Trump.
19
As an African American I will say most of us don't believe Bloomberg"s come to Jesus moment about stop and frisk. We New Yorkers know how it feels having our male children tossed regularly by a car full of white cops wearing lumberjack shirts.We New Yorkers also know how Bloomberg gave our city to the developers and ignored the outer boroughs. With all his flaws it is still no contest who I would vote for if the opponent is Trump.Bloomberg needs us now and we should extract a pound of flesh for his past misdeeds.But! In November I will hold my nose and vote for him against 45.
373
@Steven McCain
Steven, you GET it, the crisis we are facing under Trump. You are correct, "no contest."
Thank you for your prospective nose-holding.
11
@Steven McCain
Amen! Bad as his past has been, Bloomberg’s future actions will be worlds better than Trump’s.
8
@Steven McCain Thank you
9
Charles - this is more of the circular firing squad reflex that throws me into despair about my lifelong Democratic Party. Only the pure can enlist your aid in vanquishing the Trump Apocalypse? In the 1930s I'm sure there were socialists who could never vote for FDR because he wasn't a child of the proletariat. Bloomberg isn't running because he has a deep desire to be president, he's running to oust Trump. But if he's 10% racist tainted, you'll refuse his help against a 100% bigot?
23
Blow would never vote for Trump.
He’s talking about the Democratic primary.
No one here who is proclaiming support for Bloomberg can list even one thing he might have accomplished.
He’s just a guy with money.
I'm surprised nobody has brought up how Bloomberg changed NYC mayoral term limits so he could run a third time, then once he was elected, supported the change back to two terms. Democrats have been beside themselves that Trump may never leave office, but now one of their best hopes has already proven that he has no problem going down that road.
9
@Didi If NYC didn't like Bloomberg and his accomplishments so much, he never would have won a second term or gotten the chance to run and yes, win, a third term.
10
New Yorkers had nothing to say about it.
Bloomberg’s third term was extended by the New York City Council, and was opposed by many New York organizations and individuals.
1
Charles writes "cannot be forgotten" when he means "cannot be forgiven". Bloomberg has admitted this was a big mistake. But that's not enough for the self appointed moral arbiters of our times. Three things: Christ told us to forgive, but forgiveness doesn't seem to be in the vocabulary of these judges. Second, if the choice is Bloomberg or Trump, then which? Because it may well come to that, and if we try to kneecap Bloomberg's campaign now, it will be Trump. Third, black and white, binary valued moralising is both polarizing and hopelessly ineffective. Forgive. You will grow.
20
None of the people victimized by stop and frisk has been compensated by Bloomberg.
Atonement requires more than an opportunistic whine that he’s “sorry.”
Bloomberg or Trump?
No contest. Bloomberg gets the vote. Look forward, not backwards.
We are in extraordinary times with Trump. Trump has done greater harm to black and browns than Bloomberg ever has or ever will.
33
I despair reading most of the letters responding to Mr Blow's op-ed. Fellow citizens, Democrats, willing to overlook Bloomberg's defense of stop and frisk because it decreased crime (allegedly!) and because he has since said he is sorry. Democratic voters willing to accept that it is fine in our country to allow someone to buy their way to the Presidency just because it will defeat a currently corrupt President. Since when is there "good" corruption? Please tell me that I'm not over-reacting to these letters, that I am not reading that democratic Americans are willing to throw over principles, history, the evils of racist policing, and even the Constitution - in fact "whatever it takes!" - in order to defeat Donald Trump. What kind of victory would that be?
5
@Rita I hate to say it, but the people who support Trump in 2016, but are somewhat wary of supporting him again, are the most likely to actually appreciate Bloomberg's gall over enforcing the stop and frisk policy. In fact, it may earn him more Trump converts than Democrats sitting home.
5
@Ed If I follow your reply, it seems as if you're saying that with Bloomberg as the nominee most Democrats will vote for him whatever their misgivings and that he will also attract disaffected former Trump supporters. Perhaps so. But I still feel very disheartened that the Dems writing in response to Mr Blow's column are so cynical and/or naive as to think it okay to do whatever it takes to get Anyone But Trump in the WH.
1
I'd like to know who Mr. Blow is for?
Klobuchar is open to anti-choicers = as a woman, that's a deal breaker for me
Pete, who I used to support, is too beholden now to Big Pharma and the For-profit Healthcare industre = deal breaker for me. Most of Bernie's policies go too far for me = deal breaker.
Joe is a disaster, not even worth considering.
I'm sorry for the anxiety and terrible pain that SAF caused so many but I'm still voting for Mike because he's the only one who can stop Trump.
12
It’s sad that healthcare for all, college for whoever wants and qualifies for it, and support for the right of workers to form unions “go too far” for you.
They’re the norm in most civilized countries.
2
@Jerry Engelbach Mike's for a Public Medicare option, which I am for too. Universal healthcare is not going to happen in the next 4 years, even if Bernie wins. While I am all for free technical school, or paid apprenticeships and free 2-year community college programs, I'm not for free college for everyone. I support unions, didn't know Mike was against them. You don't need to school me on civilized countries and their benefits, having lived in a couple others, I am well aware of what they have, thanks. We can work toward those things but we're not going to get all of them in the next 4 years, no matter who is Prez.
My sole focus is to get this quasi- fascist regime out of the White House, as well as congress. This the only thing for me. I like Bernie but not enough and he won't win against the Trump lie-machine.
1
It may come down to a choice between ugly men, one who “ seems” repentant and one who bullies on with no restraint.
Beware the circular firing squad.
7
Thanks to the liberal podcaster, Benjamin Dixon, to who we owe the knowledge that Bloomberg is a very hypocritical racist. Apologizing for racist practices under his watch just before entering a political campaign? The summum of hypocrisy.
The whole thing calls into question his entire management of New York City. White affluent bankers loved him, but what about minorities outside of Manhattan? “Thrown up against a wall”
And it did not even work and made things worse for these communities.
Sorry but no thanks. If it is Bloomberg, I will stay home and not vote, unless Bernie or Warren comes as a third party.
2
I guess you would rather have four more years of trump than vote for someone who has the best chance of beating him?
@R.
Smart. That will do it. “Against the wall, my head I rammed. So now I’m dead, well I’ll be darned!”
Says all the people black, brown, and white who think *they* would never be stopped and frisked.
Sorry, but my black kid minding his own business, getting thrown up against a wall and very possibly shot for nothing is *not* making me safe nor making me feel safe.
Go after criminals, not just black and brown ones. Whites are known to use drugs at the same rate, why aren't they being targeted on the streets, in their neighborhoods, on college campuses, in predominately white high schools?
There's an excellent chance of finding drugs. In drug-riddled middle America, are whites being saved from their neighbors? From themselves and their drug usage?
The answer is, no, they are not. Why not?
6
Nothing exemplifies the moral bankruptcy of the Democratic Party better than the candidacies of Mayors Bloomberg and Buttigieg.
The most offensive thing about these candidacies is that they rely entirely upon citizens’ ignorance.
In Bloomberg’s case one also needs a serious case of amnesia in order to somehow con oneself into believing that the best way to beat the racist, lying multimillionaire Republican from NY in the WH is with another racist, conniving Republican billionaire from NY running on the Democratic side.
It’d be hilarious if it wasn’t so demented.
TDS in full bloom.
This will be the first POTUS election that was essentially purchased as an off-the-shelf item with the candidate's own money, primarily as a tax dodge.
Bloomberg's tax plans would save him $3.5billion versus the proposals from Warren and Sanders.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bloomberg-wealth-tax-compare-sanders-buttigieg-warren-biden/
Direct rule by the billionaires is our future.
Democracy will be a total joke. But hey, MSNBC, CNN, WaPo, the NYT and Fox will tell us it's perfectly normal.
Bloomberg certainly has the money to win in November and the disdain for democratic principles.
Otherwise how any self-respecting person can think that what a deeply broken America needs is another billionaire running about the White House is far beyond what i can comprehend.
US politics may be beyond all hope if it's just a billionaire blowout for the presidency, making the US officially an oligarchy.
9
Mr. Blow, one question: Was there less crime in NYC while stop and frisk was in effect? Yes or No? (An oft-used diktat of Senator Kamala Harris)
6
Yes, crime is generally less in a police state.
Was that the point you were trying to make?
Thanks, Mr Blow, for objecting to Bloomberg and his stop & frisk policy. It was inexcusable then and remains so in retrospect. And it is unforgivable.
The criticism you cite against "Mayor Mike" from the Police Benevolent Association is quite enlightening. Bloomberg ignored advice from his own police officers. By using stop & frisk, racial profiling and other unethical policies, he routinely disgraced, violated and damaged the very communities throughout the city that his job as mayor required him to protect and serve.
Even after it became clear that these misguided and noxious policies did nothing to reduce crime, he continued to stubbornly support them. The reasons why are numerous but logical if one looks at his mayoralty as a whole.
He did not care about citizens who resided outside his own class of ultrarich business elites, a small cadre with outsized and undeserved power and influence over the rest of the city's population. His policies strongly favored only them. If anyone else happened to benefit, it was only tangentially.
That was the best case scenario. A darker one is more likely, especially when evidenced by the recently publicized recording of Bloomberg expressing his troubling views on how to solve crime.
Apparently, legions of voters, including many who lived in the city during his dozen-year reign as mayor, are willing to ignore, forgive or forget his long-held apathy and hostility toward those who are not like him. Doing so is shameful.
2
The one thing Michael Bloomberg can do in this election is provide massive monetary support to the ultimate, actual candidate that represents the Democratic Party in 2020.
I recently received a call from a Bloomberg campaign solicitor, asking if I would support him. I told him no, because I lived in NYC during his time as mayor. That I didn't vote for him then, and I wouldn't vote for him now. And that when he declared only he could help the City and convinced the Common Council to give him a chance at a 3rd run I found his arrogance anti-democratic bordering on tyrannical. I find it interesting, the parallel between his declaration and that Trump is throwing out the idea of a 3rd term even now before potentially earning a 2nd.
I don't detest Michael Bloomberg the way I do Trump, and given how much money is pouring into the Trump campaign currently, Bloomberg could provide a good balance. It might make me not dislike him the way I did at the end of his 3rd term. In fact, if he withdrew now and pledged to match any amount that Trump raises, to go directly to the ultimate Democratic candidate, he might actually earn my esteem.
3
While "Democrats have a field of fascinating candidates", that doesn't mean that any of them can beat Trump in the general election. Disregard the polls showing Trump losing to almost anyone in the field of candidates. Don't forget that Trump will have the Russians working behind the scenes to help their comrade win.
Finally, anyone that comments that Trump is a better option than Bloomberg needs to take a minute to sober up. Nothing is worse than another four years of Trump.
11
No doubt that Bloomberg's stop and frisk policies were wrong, and as the court determined, unlawful. But they were done with good intentions although that is, of course, no excuse.
But what is, in my opinion, far worse was his destruction of the public school system. For a variety of reasons, the public school system had deteriorated starting with the "community control" movement which put know nothings in charge of local schools. Mt. Bloomberg put know nothings in charge of the system and took terrible steps to balkanize it to prevent improvement.
The destruction of the public school system, the engine that lifted countless minority groups to sucess, will be Mike Bloomberg's legacy.
2
Although I usually agree with your written opinions, I must defend Michael Bloomberg in this case. We All make mistakes but some never apologize. He has done more for various charities and foundations than any other candidate. While I am a lapsed New Yorker, Bloomberg did many honorable policies and achievements - correcting overstuffed City Hall, improving health policies as well as public schools with higher test scores and certainly helping minorities achieve them.
I strongly believe that he will be a strong adversary against the most corrupt and unapologetic Trump!
9
Giulliani started stop and frisk, Bloomberg expanded it. DeBlasio ended it. In each case the crime rate went down. Correlation doesn't imply causation is the lesson here. One could just as easily assume and increase in cell phones or flat-pael televisions caused a drop in crime.
8
Senator Sanders is the only leading candidate without a massive race issue.
Trust me: the republicans know it’s not really about accusing him of being a left wing “socialist”. That argument has little appeal. What really works? Painting opponents as racists and driving down turn-out for the democratic base.
For that reason, I think Biden, Bloomberg, Amy and Buttigieg are already doomed. Trump voters will turn up anyway. The polls can say what they want now, but after a summer of vitriolic attacks on the nominee in anonymous facebooks and digital ads painting them as racists, some will even vite Trump!
This Bloomberg video is the end of his candidacy. He just does not know it yet.
3
@R Thank you for this, I hope you are right. All other dem candidates should come after Bloomberg the next debate. The corporatist and empathy-challenged I'm sure would want Bloomberg properly vetted if they sincerely want the strongest candidate to beat Trump to win the primary.
2
I'll literally vote for ANYONE I believe can defeat Trump in 2020.
8
I actually logged back in to comment on the ad with Obama. I've seen it a few times and then again today. Today the ad seemed different. I looked at the YT version. Nothing stood out. yet I am struck by this impression that the ad that just played on TV had been visually modified. It was a lot lighter as if someone had modified the video to lighten it up.
Maybe its just my distaste for this lying weasel, but I think someone is trying to make Obama seem lighter skinned especially at the start of it.
1
We'll just have to overlook this matter being that the fate of our democracy is on the line here. Better get over hard headed nonsense and compromise - Mike would be a Republican in a sane world - and Trump would be a Democrat. This has gone beyond party and parochial concerns. It's cult of personality versus democracy, failure is not an option.
1
but imagine if you were a billionaire like Michael Bloomberg... you have houses all over the world, and even a nice one in Bermuda... where you stay during some of the winter months.
Imagine too that you have at least half a chance of being the president.
Imagine too that you are a person of integrity and education, who has had a lot of good luck in life. Life has been good, you have been lucky.
Could you enjoy any part of these next 5 years if you just sat there on your duff, and didn’t even have the courage and integrity to at least try to see if you could dislodge Donald from the White House ?
It will stink being president, a lousy, thankless job, but it would be even worse to not even try.
No respectable person of integrity, intelligence, and education could enjoy the next 5 years without at least trying to become the president, if they had even half a chance.
That is the guy that is being criticized here, Bloomberg.
7
How naive.
Nobody becomes president out of altruism.
It’s about power.
Suppose a voter in November has a choice of Bloomberg with his race-based policies and the practice of stop-and -frisk, or to vote for Donald J. Trump. What would Blow recommend the voter, particularly a voter of color, should do?
4
Mr. Blow. Let me state some facts. Trump is President and ANYBODY will better. Bloomberg might not be the best but right now I will take him over Trump if it comes down to it.
12
Arshavia,
I would vote for Klobuchar in a heart beat, this from someone who left the Democratic Party in disgust in 2018.
She radiates kindness and competency.
2
Bloomberg is the only person running for President as a Democrat who I absolutely will not vote for, not even against Trump. We don't need another racist, misogynist billionaire who thinks the rules don't apply to him. Too many (white) New Yorkers consider him to have been a good mayor and will let him buy his way to the nomination. No thanks. Give me a candidate who wants to get money out of elections, not pour his own gasoline on the dumpster fire.
And by the way, there was one thing Bloomberg missed in his description of the typical murderer and murder victim -- gang member. The majority of non-suicide shootings are connected to gang activity. If he really wanted to target the gun murderers, he should have focused on antigang task forces and left the innocent members of the community alone. Heck, the innocent people might well have helped get the gangs off the streets; black and brown people have no more desire to be caught in the crossfire than white people do.
2
Bloomberg/trump = RACISM. Mr. Bloomberg, how about
giving some of your massive fortune to the 12 years of
people whose lives you ruined. Maybe even providing
funding for individual tutors for students in poor performing schools.
1
As a former court reporter it is important to note that evidence is strong many of those marijuana arrests were phony and driven by the arrest quota system set up by Giuliani and successors. Enormous number of "dropsy cases", wherein since cops could not search without some rational basis they,surprise, surprise, spotted a bag drop out of the black person's pants, picked it up since it was in plain sight, and surprise, surprise, discovered it to be grass. Another notch on the belt.
2
“Democrats have a field of fascinating candidates.”
Well, why doesn’t one of them run for president!
2
Trump will indirectly identify the one candidate that he knows will pummel him in November. For a long time it was Biden and look at how Trump smeared him into oblivion without the help of Zelensky. Warren is no longer a threat and Mayor Pete has probably peaked with an all white two state primary. Amy will probably be a serious contender for VP slot, but she just doesn't have the chops. Trump has been promoting Bernie as the best contender in a transparent effort to push the one candidate left that he knows he can beat. When Trump starts ridiculing Bloomberg its a sure sign that he fears a thumping come November. So Mr. Blow will you willingly trade the indignation of S&F for another four years of a truly racists president?
8
Keep up the bad work Charles by continuing to drum up stop and frisk so that you can try to clobber Bloomberg's growing candidacy! You will insure another four years of Trump. No one else running is going to win. Accept reality.
11
If the choice is between the notorious Michael Bloomberg & the notorious Donald Trump, who are you going to choose? The notorious Bernie Sanders ain’t gonna cut it in a general election so perhaps it’s time to forgive Bloomberg & move on.
11
@Charles Woods The point you clearly miss is we are at the BEGINNING of the primary, it SHOULD NOT be between Bloomberg or Trump and your support for Bloombergs's primary defeat would be the true indicator that you want to beat Trump.
2
@Riyaz Guerra Honestly I don’t want to defeat Trump, who in spite of his weird & obnoxious personality looks to me like a relatively successful president. My point is that it looks to me like those who do want to defeat Trump, for legitimate reasons I don’t dismiss, would be wise to back Bloomberg in spite of his past mistakes because he looks to me like the only candidate who has a real shot at actually pulling it off.
1
Thank you Charles, for the frank truth--in America we saw police occupation of minority neighborhoods--that sums it up. Now go on cable TV --- get it out to more than Times readers.
Bloomberg naively or arrogantly thought he could be elected president. Maybe being a billionaire does that to people?
The world will mock and pity us if we elect anyone to our country's highest office whose policies a judge ruled were an unconstitutional violation of the 4th Amendment. He appealed it, he lost. He'll lose again.
Mara Gay of NYT editorial bd wrote, "Bloomberg Apologizes for Stop-and-Frisk at Just the Right Time.
He'd long defended it, but data showed in 88 % of the stops, there was no arrest."
"By the time he left office, New Yorkers had been stopped by the police more than five million times. An entire generation of black and Latino children had grown up accustomed to getting “tossed” by the police on their way home from school."
Is this the man to defeat our current criminal president? We've got plenty better candidates for that ---they may not have billions, or massive digital operations to inundate us with ads --- but they have more ethics, public duty, and respect for citizens.
A Times article reported on the disgusting remarks Bloomberg made about women. The last thing we need --- a privileged billionaire who disses minorities and women----after the Trump reign. What a turn-off!
We need relief from an offensive, insulting leader, not just another version of it.
2
Mr. Blow seems willing to give Trump a second term because Bloomberg in good faith supported a policy designed to reduce the number of young black men killed on the street, and everyone else caught in the crossfire. We can be sure that Trump could care less about dead black men.
But who cares? We are Democrats, and shouting Racism is all that matters.
16
Millions of people opposed stop and frisk, for the very reasons that it turned out to be a disaster.
If Bloomberg was “well intentioned” in implementing it, he showed less judgment, intelligence, and foresight than any one of those millions.
That puts him way, way down on the list of people with the wisdom and compassion to be a decent leader.
1
So Charles, what if it’s Bloomberg vs Trump?
7
Politico--- "... Bloomberg’s 2020 campaign ad touts that he “took charge” of New York after 9/11.
What Bloomberg doesn’t mention: He leaned heavily on an endorsement from Rudy Giuliani, the then-NY mayor who is now Trump’s personal attorney, to win that post... chastising his Democratic opponent for being “no friend of Rudy Giuliani.”
Giuliani is just one of many skeletons in Bloomberg’s partisan closet..... he’ll have to explain the millions he’s spent putting Republicans into office, including contributions backing more than a dozen current and former members of Congress.
He switched parties several times …. endorsed Bush in 2004, and John McCain and even held a fundraiser for a House GOP member as recently as last year."
So, he's been a Repub, an Independent and now a Dem. He's trying to buy this election. Why not? Our politics is so dominated by big money---legally.
2
Bloomberg is bad at math. Most crime and drug fighting operations are as well. Brush up on whatever understanding you have of statistics.
All you white entitle commentators should do a side by side advertisement between what Trump has said and done vs Bloomberg’s and let me know how it turns out for you. I hope every black voters stay home on Election Day
It is arguable that the policy described here disqualifies Bloomberg. But if we examine the background of every other Democratic candidate, grounds could be discovered to cast serious doubt on his or her candidacy. The argument that the candidate with the best chance of defeating Trump should be disqualified for any particular past policy decision, undercuts the paramount aim of this campaign, which is to remove Trump from his predatory perch.
4
I, for one, will categorically never vote for a billionaire. I would rather stay at home on election day than cast my vote for another immoral man with a troubling past who prioritizes money over everything else. (and let's face it, you do not get to be a billionaire without prioritizing money over everything else). I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way.
Bloomberg is comically unnecessary. We have so many good options with current slate of democratic candidates. If you're a moderate, why on god's green earth Bloomberg over Klobuchar?
If you're more radically liberal, vote with your heart. Unless you're a mind reader, you can't cannot tell me that Sanders or Warren are un-electable. At this time 4 years ago, that's what everybody was saying about Trump.
2
If I am ever frisked, no weapon will be found, and I’ll be fine. I should get over it within the hour. Yes, I’ll have a story to tell friends and family, maybe with a laugh. I vote for public safety and respect for law enforcement officers.
6
Luckily for you, you may never experience the indignity and the physical and verbal abuse suffered by young black men at the hands of racist cops during the shameful era of stop and frisk.
But your faith in your safety in a police state is illusional. No one is safe in a dictatorship.
I get Mr. Blow's issues with Blooomberg. I get the purist's angst about a billionaire "buying his way to the nomination and presidency." So please, you paragons of political virtue, accept my judgement that your views are shallow and will lead us to four more years of Trump. I feel my woke credentials are second to none. But at 72 I've seen, as many have, the Dems need to 'fall in love' lead to disastrous electoral consequences. Sorry, I fail to see how Sanders using MY money is more virtuous than Bloomberg using his. More to the point, I feel an argument can be made for quite the opposite. Mr. Sander's positions resonate with my heart. But my head also tells me that he is clearly a megalomaniacal unreconstructed 60's radical but with a two-year-old's need to have the immediate universe conform to his--and only his--orientation. What we as progressives need is some realpolitik toughness to compliment our wondrous objectives. None of the candidates who have subjected themselves to debate show me that sweet-spot combination. Bloomberg has shown me that, and I'm keen to see him on the debate stage. Give the guy a chance. Remember: FDR was a deemed to be a 'traitor to his class' and unloved by the silk-stocking set. For that reason I'm a proud Limousine Liberal and Mr. Sanders has my support.
3
This column is drawing many Bloomberg supporter comments. Doesn't mean they're typical of most voters. This happens with comments to most articles on any candidate.
We have better candidates, who will also push for the sensible gun laws we need and most democracies have.
Now especially after Trump, America needs a president who respects average citizens, their rights and needs.
One of Tsar Trump the Terrible’s worst effects is to make even lousy candidates look almost saint like to some voters. Thus, Trump's harm to the country may live long after him.
Will we elect just 'better than Trump' as highest priority? Then have to wait 'til 2024 or 28 to start America moving for reforms we need in gun control, economic equality, equal justice, and medical care as a right?
Here, we have a mega donor industry that make high profit off selling guns. Guns freely circulate, enabling any deranged person to use them against the public.
The solution isn't police occupation of neighborhoods, dissing the constitutional rights of citizens going about their daily business. It's to stop warping the 2nd Amendment, and to pass strict gun laws, as most other democracies have.
1st, we have to reform how we finance our elections.
All part of the pattern.
1
Let's face it: the only reason why Bloomberg is running as a democrat is because he can't run as a republican while Trump holds power.
2
Sorry, I usually agree with you, but not this time. You are advocating that again, the Democrats need to bring a knife to a gunfight. And this year the former Democrat who now sits in the WH is bringing AR15s. We need to fight fire with fire. Bloomberg will be beholden to nobody, as he is financing his own campaign. He is not "Buying" the nomination. He is buying ads, which the Supreme Court said can be bought with huge contributions from the people, and by the way, corporations are people. Unlike Trump, Bloomberg has shown that criticism of his actions leads to his reassessment of those actions, and admission of culpability. If Nixon were running against Trump, I would vote for Nixon. He at least recognized the rule of law, and signed the EPA into existence.
9
Incredible the singular focus in an issue that Bloomberg has admitted was misguided and wrong and omits any context , either of his exemplary conduct in workplace and philanthropy realms. He apologized, sincerely, but that is not enough in this age of P.C. purity, and seems the author and moaning media would rather have 4 more years of Trump.
Ok- got it... B screwed up on a serious policy. He is not a racist, nor intends to build a wall at the edge of Manhattan. Can we, Democrats, engage in a more constructive manner?
15
Politics makes for strange bedfellows. I for one am beyond tired of sharing the nations bed with Trump. Yes, Bloomberg has his political scars but at the moment they are scars I can abide in a President. Bad as they are they don’t keep me awake at night. I look forward to America finding a new sleeping partner. I’m tired of being awakened by the nations recurring nightmares. Here’s to a good nights sleep.
11
If Bloomberg is able to buy the nomination, so many Democrats will be turned off that Mr. Blow will be proven correct: 4 more years of Donald Trump.
I'm following current polls in the battleground states and only two Democrats beat Trump: Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. Bernie is now the frontrunner and Biden is fading fast. Sanders is the real deal and isn't carrying all the same baggage, so maybe it's time feel the Bern!
6
@Mark McIntyre see my brilliant analysis above.
@Mark McIntyre
You're behind the times. African American support for Bloomberg is surging:
"A nationwide Quinnipiac poll on Monday showed a steep decline in Biden's African American support — from 49% to 27% — in just two weeks. Rising fast — from 7% to a second-place 22% in the same period — was Michael Bloomberg. Bernie Sanders was third at 19%; Elizabeth Warren, fourth at 8%; and Pete Buttigieg, fifth at 4%."
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/trump-new-hampshire-primary-bloomberg-biden-sanders-buttigieg-warren-klobuchar-1.41696928
1
As much as I appreciate this column as a reminder of Bloomberg's racist governmental practices, I don't like it as much as Mr. Blow's earlier column, "You Must Never Vote For Bloomberg." Next to that column, this seems like something of a backtrack. If progressives don't pool our energy right now, and in a concerted way against a Bloomberg candidacy, Bloomberg will be the Democratic nominee. That will be a disaster for the Democratic party, the Democratic process and the nation as a whole, which will basically turn into a glorified Amazon warehouse. Maybe Bezos for VP?
3
@Jeremiah Crotser
A better running mate for Bloomberg would be Michael Steele.
Mike and Mike!
What's not to like?
I am not a Bloomberg supporter (I never voted for him despite living in NYC) and, as a Hispanic male, I deplored the stop-and-frisk policy. But it seems like all I'm hearing from African-American writers and pundits is the importance of race whether it's about Mayor Mike or Mayor Pete. My question is--and it's meant totally respectfully--is race more important than country? Do the grievous errors in judgement that these men evinced in their pasts negate the positive things they did while in government and what they represent? Does that make them worse than the current legitimate racist in the White House? Is Mr. Blow really ready to let Bernie Sanders lead the Democrats to another four years of Trump because he doesn't believe Bloomberg's "mea culpa" and doesn't like his wealth?
14
@fred
Correct. Race is being used in an outsized manor by the left, by Blow, and ironically, by Putin.
1
Racism, it seems to me, has two dimensions. One is reflected in things people do: the ways they act outwardly. Society can act in explicit ways to address these sorts of outward behaviors by explicitly admonishing them or even outlawing them.
The other dimension of racism is inward. These are the things that people think and the beliefs they hold. These can not be legislated against, because they dwell in peoples’ heads, and may or may not be expressed in outward behavior.
As a country we have made enormous progress on explicitly outlawing racist behaviors that used to be common, but the implicit racism, how people think and believe, is much more problematic. Beliefs and opinions resist punishment and are often impervious to public policy.
In this way, Bloomberg’s stop and frisk policies addressed an outward problem with an explicit policy process. It did not, however, deal with the implicit attitudes of racism that were causing the issues surrounding crime. He clearly chose a technocratic solution in order to get something accomplished, but did not put enough thought into the underlying issues about why crime was higher in the areas where the policies were implemented.
Trump has cynically appealed to white voters, particularly older ones, to exploit their fears of being replaced in a more just society. Because they fear “being replaced,” these voters are susceptible to his efforts, and underscores the difficulties inherent in changing minds, not just policies.
3
I get why African Americans and Latinos had a problem with stop and frisk. Unfortunately it became a policy due to crime and the source of the crime was minority youth. I personally stopped a rapist a few weeks ago in my neighborhood and held him until the police arrived. He's currently in Rikers and frankly my neighborhood is safer because of it. The kid in his early twenties had been loitering in retail stores in the neighborhood for months and the proprietors kept throwing him out. This was the sort of guy the police in the past would have stopped. I heard a series of loud screams and saw this kid running from the scene and not stopping. I frankly took a risk, but sized him up and with some skills I have from a past life detained him in a way which was not unkind, but at the same time he could not move to reach any weapons. When the police came 10 minutes later, I released him. The point is, the minority communities and the parents within those communities need to take responsibility for the behavior of their children. Need to know where they are and what they are carrying and with whom they are associating. If those parents and the community policed themselves these sort of policies would not have a reason to exist.
13
@Bill
Thanks for taking action. The denizens of high crime neighborhoods are not usually against heavy handed policing if within reason. It’s a gray area between the blue line and prejudice.
2
@Bill
Bravo...EXACTLY!
We need to win under any circumstances which for many of us means making compromises. None of the other Dem candidates have any hope in winning unless you're delusional. Middle America will not vote for Bernie, Warren, Pete, etc. and Biden has been fatally wounded - they are a circular firing squad.
Every Republican I know will vote for Bloomberg, even campaign for him. If Bloomberg doesn't get the nomination, the moderate Republicans and independents will write in Weld or someone else or stay home (just like what happened with Hillary) with the result of 4 more years of Trump Terror.
Remember Ralph Nader... McGovern...
Pragmatism will deliver us from Trump.
Idealism vs. reality. Take your pick.
13
Gore won his election. The Supreme Court, not Nader, gave it to Bush.
McGovern was a milquetoast candidate. You cannot compare him to the Sanders firebrand.
Absolutely, wrong.
Mr. Blow,
Thank you for not letting up on Mr. Bloomberg.
He is nothing more than a self-serving bereft of decency, respect, and empathy, human being, intent on using his vast $60 billion fortune to do what he and his ilk always do, and are seeking to continue here in our United States of America, which is continue corporate ownership of our government, maintain the disenfranchising status quo and keep the poor and the middle-class in a constant state of penury and economic slavery.
He is no different than the current occupant of our White House, albeit somewhat less onerous, although seeking to maintain and increase inequality to benefit corporate America and the wealthiest Americans is as onerous as it can get.
I'm confident when all is said and done, the few hundred million dollars he spends will be remembered as Bloombergs Folly, as he will get nowhere near being President, unless Bernie Sanders invites him for tea.
4
Bloomberg is not my first choice. In addition to stop and frisk, he ruined NYC schools by indulging Joel Klein and the charter school profiteers like Evil Eva Moskowitz.
But if he wins the nomination, we must support him. Four more years of Trump will spell the end of democracy, and an insurmountable majority of Christian Fundamentalists on the SCOTUS.
10
If you have to pick, Mr. Blow, I would hope that you would try to forgive Mr. Bloomberg, rather than seeing Donald Trump retain the White House. Stop and frisk was an egregious error, not to be forgotten, but sometimes an horrific mistake can teach, and I can hope that Mr. Bloomberg has learned.
10
Where should patrol cops be deployed ... high crime or low crime neighborhoods?
And what's the big deal about being stopped and frisked? No weapon found? Ok, move on and get on with your life. I mean where's the harm?
5
You know what’s great about America? No one can force you to vote for Mr. Bloomberg and no one can stop me from voting for him. Remember another thing about democracy-the people get what they deserve.
4
No, they don’t.
In America’s winner-take-all system those who vote for the loser get nothing.
I get it. His behavior and policies were reprehensible and unforgivable. No apologies or excuses. But if he does become the nominee — a prospect I find doubtful but possible — then I will vote for him without hesitation. Let us remember that there is no candidate more venal, more horrifying, more damaging, more incompetent, more evil, or more unacceptable than Trump. Bloomberg would never top my list, but if he is the candidate, there is no question in my mind as to who I would vote for. All of the Democrats are flawed (they’re all human), but none of them remotely approaches the nightmare of Trump.
10
We are hurtling toward an existential election on 11/3/2020.
We must oust Trump - and indeed, all Republicans, everywhere - from office. At this point, all else is secondary.
If Mike Bloomberg, who tearfully apologized for stop-and-frisk, is the candidate who can do that then good.
15
Can we see your tax returns, Mr. Bloomberg?
2
@Rob
I do believe Bloomberg would willingly display his tax returns.
He *truly* is a billionaire and has nothing to hide, unlike some people we know.
4
Why can’t it be forgotten?
Why not lay down your grievances and take up our collective responsibilities to one another, including forgiveness?
13
Michael Bloomberg is our only hope of ousting Trump. Period. End of story.
21
Charles, I appreciate your rage. Now: today is today. I do not believe that Bloomberg is a racist. Trump is. Bloomberg has apologized. Trump never has. He said he made a mistake. Trump has never admitted to any mistake. He said he regrets this terrible, horrible policy. Trump has never said any policy was terrible (see border). He said it was bad jugement. Trump has never admitted to bad jugement, ever, and is becoming more autocratic by the day. Bloomberg said he can beat Donald Trump. I believe he can. I believe he is the only candidate who can. So this is where we are today. It is imperative that somebody beat Trump and that someone is Bloomberg because he has the funds to do it, a great sense of humor and plenty of New York chutzpah.
20
Here's something for your consideration:
The Bloomberg candidacy pits one New Yorker against another New Yorker. Who is the bigger racist?
Trump wanted (still does) to execute the Central Park kids who are not guilty.
Bloomberg has stop and frisk on his record.
It will be interesting to see how this plays nationally. To New Yorkers, it always seems your views and concerns are central to life on Earth.
To the rest of the country what has gone on in New York is largely ignored. Case in point - a tax scamming, racist landlord, wildly out of control New Yorker is in the White House. Obviously, the people who elected him don't seem to care what bad stuff he did in New York.
Charles, this is the second impassioned column you have written about Bloomberg. Your points are solid and reasoned.
The problem you face is - most of the rest of the USA does not care. If it did care, Trump could never have been elected.
It's already hotted up between Trump and Bloomberg. Those TV ads are getting under Trump's skin. The Twitter war is on.
What is very sad is that the vast majority of voters in the country probably think stop and frisk was a great idea.
That is the America in which we- and you - live.
I do not blame you one iota for your anger. It is justified. Just don't forget to keep spreading some to the proven racist in the White House, too.
9
Charles Blow, thank you for this column. There is a remarkable hypocrisy in liberals condemning 'otherwise good people' who looked through the prejudice and voted for Trump, but who themselves now look through Bloomberg's flagrantly racist violations of civil rights and praise his pragmatism and moderation. A vote for Bloomberg is a vote against constitutional protections and a vote for racism.
3
Ok Mr. Blow. You have made your views about Mr. Bloomberg’s candidacy cristal clear.
Now, please give us your plan for defeating Mr. Trump in November. Maybe the nice lady from Minnesota, the 78 year-old nice guy from Vermont, or the hip youngster from South Bend. All extremely nice, all maybe even extremely qualified, but all unlikely to scare Trump or the Republicans.
They will make mince meat of any of them in short order. Bloomberg however knows them well, speaks their language, and can counter their lies and meanness dollar for dollar.
Stop and Frisk notwithstanding, give me Bloomberg in lieu of Trump any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
17
Not to minimize the effects of "stop & frisk" are you really going to compare this to a "president" who thought there were really fine people on both sides of the Charlottesville disaster or who thinks Latinos are murderers and rapists. Stop & frisk was not the way to go and was used for too long, but it doesn't compare to indifference of Mr. Trump to the plight of all people of color. I don't think there is a candidate, who could really stand up to Trump, except Bloomberg. Warts and all he has my vote.
13
Aside from stop and frisk Bloomberg’s housing, education and civil rights policies were appalling. I was uneasy when I saw black politicians and community leaders like Geoffrey Canada come out in support of Bloomberg’s 3rd mayoral term. The same old guys, and some younger ones, are now in support of his presidential candidacy. He sure knows how to attach strings to his contributions.
1
Bloomberg's stop-and-frisk undeniably caused many people grieves. I have employer provided health care. My concern is that Sanders's single-payer health care policy takes away employer provided health care--the area of private health care insurance that works well--and plunges us into an unknown--single-payer policy. It is a big enough gamble that deter me from voting for Sanders. I also post the question to other Democrats around me. They have the same dilemma. I live in San Francisco Bay Area. It is the most Democratic area of a very Democratic state. I am not sure single-payer health care policy can win votes from those who have employer health care locally, let alone nationwide. (At least it hasn't won mine.) It is not a pragmatic solution to a real and serious problem. I probably will go with Bloomberg for he is a pragmatic and effective executive, despite of his many imperfections. This year, California moves up its Democratic primary election to March. Our votes and voice matter a lot more. If Californian choose Sanders, I am afraid it may result in 4 more years of Trump.
3
Being tied to an employer simply because one is afraid of losing job-related healthcare is just short of wage slavery.
You’re better off with monetary compensation from the employer and universal healthcare for all.
I had and have no problem with Bloomberg's anti crime initiatives. They worked and improved the quality of life for all residents.
11
You mean all white residents.
Blacks lived under constant duress from the cops.
And only one percent of stops yielded results.
There is no evidence at all that stop and frisk lowered the crime rate.
I doubt if any black or Latino citizen found his life in NYC any safer because of stop and frisk. And never, more pleasant !
1
What can he do to atone?
Perhaps politicians with that kind of power should be required to take courses designed to make them understand how their policies actually get applied in the real world.
4
How is everyone okay looking past this when there are plenty of other great candidates?
I don't see him having an edge over any candidate that is currently running, not to mention he will most likely be spilt the moderate democrats votes up even more in the primaries, potentially giving Bernie a bigger lead to work with.
I also dislike how these billionaires are just buying their way into this election. I would rather vote for Bernie, Warren, Amy, or Pete over Bloomberg, and really hope it's not a billionaire vs billionaire in this general election.
3
Violent street crime in NYC grew all during the 70’s and 80’s and seemed hopeless and unstoppable. Then along came Giuliani and Bloomberg, and completely changed the city’s momentum. Mr. Blow and today’s trendy critics forget this, and see enforcement negatively and primarily in racial terms. Black and brown neighborhoods suffered the most from violent crime, and much more than from policing tactics such as stop-and-frisk. It’s now fashionable for politicians to apologize for having supported aggressive policies to fight crime waves all over the country, and especially for having put convicted criminals in jail in what progressives now call mass incarceration. Perhaps the politically correct, “woke” view is just spreading another case of social amnesia, like the emperor’s new clothes.
7
Racism is racism no matter how you try to explain it.
You’re obviously not from New York.
The crime rate began going down under Democratic Mayor David Dinkins.
Giuliani inherited that trend.
And he and Bloomberg both succeeded in totalling alienating most black people by treating them all as potential criminals.
The "stop & frisk" tactic to prevent crime stained the minorities and Bloomberg . Today this is something we would expect of Trumpus. We must NOT allow any billionaire to buy his way into a presidential election.
2
Follow the Money The issue is money. Dark Money and Fair taxation. Trump tax cut and bubble economy is a disaster in the long run. The $5 trillion tax proposal will fund schools health care, and I hope better policing. I realize the problem of violent crime. I grew up 500 feet from the Black side of the city core and visited my Aunt 300 feet from Morningside Heights Park in NYC. But the President is not a mayor. Stop and frisk is a urban problem of policing. If we were discussing the issues of a president his record of policing the city is not the issue. the issue is money to finance government. We need a sane tax policy that can finance health care. We must create lasting jobs. Bloomberg identifies the job of president with his tax policy. No one is perfect. We need to identify the present situation and to find the best available platform that will support education, health care, and jobs while bringing down the burden on the debt that can crush us. Take a look of China. Building of surpluses whir the budget of debt is a menace to the future of the USA The job of chief of police is not that of the President of the USA.
4
This is the second column Mr. Blow has presented on the "WHY NEVER BLOOMBERG." Problem is he has done even more columns calling out TRUMP. Thought he might have learned. Even Bloomberg figured out when he was wrong (and said so). And while it is critical to nominate someone who can win in November, and if he/she does win against Trump. they will actually need to govern. Bloomberg did that - and he did it from a base of facts and principles that on balance are admirable. I'm a lifelong Democrat, but the only Democratic candidate who will be able to prevail against Trump will be centrist.
13
Trump-2020-Making America Great Again. No to Bloomberg’s racism!
Blow's drumbeat of focusing on SAF is distracting. It divides the electorate, and by that fact alone weakens chances to remove Trump from office. Let's cease and desist on this soapbox discussion (for now) and unite and strengthen on issues of relevance to the broadest constituencies.
I'm happy to focus or discuss SAF *after* we get some change in the White House, but not a day before.
15
Here's the last sentence of the piece: "If Democrats cast aside all of these candidates in favor of Bloomberg and his wealth, I fear they will be making it harder to defeat Trump in November." It's a non-sequitur. If you want to say don't vote for Bloomberg, fine, but Blow makes no convincing case that Democrats will not vote for him against Trump based on the frisk policy.
12
I did not like this article. “Forgive and forget” is a valid thing. So, stop and frisk can be forgotten. Recognize we have bigger priorities. I had the sense of an ambitious journalist trying to be provocative.
10
Michael Bloomberg has nothing to apologize for on this subject and should not have been pressured to issue an apology. Regardless of the view of the federal district judge in the case, the policy was necessary. The policy should have been pressed to the Supreme Court. If the high court strikes it down, so be it. Really, is there any candidate you like if the person once upon a time said or did something with which you do not agree? Who appointed you the arbiter of everything?
9
I know I am in favor of people using information, rather than dogma, to make decisions. That is why I support Bloomberg rather than Trump, for instance. I am tired of both parties being so devoted to particular belief systems that they feel the need to ignore facts. Facts are our friends even when they are unpleasant. They are there to help us problem solve.
10
My congratulations, Mr. Blow. You are every bit the one-trick pony about Bloomberg that you are about Trump. Mr. Bloomberg has already eaten crow and renounced his former position on stop-and-frisk. As Mulvaney puts it: "Get over it." I would love to peek over your shoulder as you enter the voting booth in November if your choice is between Trump and Bloomberg. You cannot seem to handle more than one issue at a time. Stop your wallowing and try living in the present. Your brand of crusading is unbecoming.
15
There is a difference between an over aggressive policy and doing it for racist reasons. Bloomberg is data driven. Nationwide (FBI stats), Blacks commit murders 6x greater than whites, a host of violent crimes 2-3x. Hispanics, however, only commit crimes approximately 20% more than whites. I do not know the NYC specific rations. There is not a category of FBI tracked crime from rape to arson where blacks do not commit crimes at least 2x the white populations. The Asian community commits these same crimes consistently at rate 66% less than whites - or a 33% rate of whites. This means that Blacks commit murders 18x greater per capita numbers than Asians. There is a reason that I don’t worry about a group of NYU Asian students walking around in a group.
10
I think you have Bloomberg dangerously wrong. He is a technocrat and when he made it NYC police policy, stop and frisk was considered an effective way to reduce crime. He now confesses to this mistake, I take him at his word based on everything else he has done, but he is not a natural politician, that is, not a serial liar like the President, so you are witnessing clumsy embarrassment. You keep accusing this man of something he is not. Keep this in mind before you trash our chances of ridding Trump: Bloomberg was a key reason the Dems flipped congress. Just look at what his foundation is doing for social justice, something you put after your name but weaponize without understanding the full spectrum of your hatred.
15
Mr. Blow's columns are predictable and untroubled by real world facts.
Since O.W. Wilson wrote Police Administration, Bill Parker applied it in Los Angeles, and progressive police leaders evolved its core tenets, identification of demand and responsive allocation of resources enable agencies to best protect and serve.
The CompStat solution of the sainted Bill Bratton is nothing more than a technoloy-evolved iteration of what Wilson proposed in 1950. Mr. Blow contends that tailoring police presence and practices to co.mmunity conditions is racist.
He, like the jurists and academics who constructed a skewed, result-oriented equal protection analysis of stop-and-frisk simply ignore reality. Applying this standard (ratio of weapons found to stops made) would suggest that the TSA predeparture screening should be discontinued because it disparately impacts frequent flyers.
4
Charles, as a long time admirer, a long time reader of your columns, I bought "Fire Shot Up In My Bones" as soon as it came out, I am troubled by this article. Many times you have lifted my spirits and introduced me to a different way of looking at things, through the lens of a Black man. I admired your writing and deeply felt anguish on any given topic. Today is different, I should have stopped reading your article in the first paragraph, when you wrote "Michael Ruben Bloomberg", adding his middle -- and very Jewish name -- into the story.. Perhaps Bloomberg on its own wasn't enough for some voters to know that Bloombergl is a Jew, so you had to add "Ruben" so your readers would make absolutely sure they knew his pedigree. While your words screamed "racist" throughout your article allow me to point out to you that you gave as good as you got. In the age of Trump, I am quite aware of how difficult it is being a Jew in 2020 but sadly you showed who you were when you added "Ruben." I have always been aware of the evilness of hatred and racism towards Blacks. Today with your article you twisted it around. I am sad with this article. You are better than that.
19
@LindaP Ithaca Exactly. Well said.
3
Enough already. Does the New York Times want to defeat President Trump or does it want to sell newspapers? Context is the issues with this story and that is never mentioned.........just the head line. The same thing is true with pro-basketball players. One accusation stays with them forever regardless of their important accomplishments that follow.
8
There may be some good Democrat candidates for POTUS but, my sense that now that Ms.Warren (my early favorite) seems to have faded, Mr. Bloomberg is probably best able and suited to go toe-to-toe with the orange blowhard, notwithstanding his stop-and-frisk baggage. Even though I feel your pain and anger Mr. Blow, let's accept Mr. Bloomberg's apology for his past indiscretions and not cut off our noses to spite our faces.
8
You must stop bashing Bloomberg for his past actions for which he has clearly apologized. Like all top CEOs he wanted results and bring criminality down in NY. Today, ask any police department and they will be able to give you the real statistics, not what you want to believe in your La-La Land.
We must concentrate on the ultimate goal here: take Trump down!! He has the means to do it, the will of the people and a strategy. Let's not waste time with the Democrats that will not make it.
7
While you're at it Mayor B, the city of Detroit would like for you to extend an apology too that your supporter at the time (of your third term race) Rudy Giuliani made about how horrendous the big Motor was. You had an African American opponent and I remember reading how Rudy emphasized that if your opponent became Mayor that the big Apple would become another Detroit. "What about that Mayor B"?
1
Our paper supported him in the mayoral election!
2
Hail to "white moderates" always willing to sacrifice other people's civil rights for their sense of well being!
Who would have thunk it?
5
Well we may have to overlook Bloomberg's mistaken policy of stop and frisk he has apologized for as the alternate might be dictator Trump who may decide to place brown folks into internment camps until they wear Maga hats. First they came for communists ,then the gypsies ,then the gays (u would need to wear a pink triangle your other stigma would be obvious) so when they come for you they may be nobody left standing in Trump's dictatorship do u recall the tiki torch folks he defended as nice folks.
6
I've been looking but have not seen a Fact Check on Bloomberg's assertion....I think he said 90% 95% fit a profile?
Is there data on the:
Age
Race
Area
of individuals arrested, charged, tried or convicted?
1
@Patrick
This should help, and yes, he was telling the truth.
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/stats/reports-analysis/crime-enf.page
Bloomberg may be a bruised apple, but he may well be the most electable.
And at least he is not rotten to the core, festering, at the bottom of the White House barrel.
He can clearly do a great deal of good, despite hopefully-in-the-past, bad decisions.
The alternative, especially catastrophic climate destruction to the entire inhabited surface of the planet, justifies the compromise.
6
What also can't be forgotten is that Trump is scared of him and he's the best candidate among the Democrats. But by all means let the circular firing squads destroy anyone who is not perfect. Bloomy might not even be a Democrat....tempted to say he transcends the petty limitations of labels and being put in a box.
7
The 2020 election makes me feel like a Trump supporter. Let me clarify-
I feel as though I'm going to have to make a decision that conflicts with my values and the issues I would like to see addressed to actually make things better in America. Mike Bloomberg's record with Stop and Frisk is a prime example. I feel like a Trump supporter who is willing to forego my values for "a win". In this case "a win" is any candidate who can defeat Donald Trump.
So, if the general election ticket is Bloomberg v. Trump, you bet your life I'm voting for Bloomberg.
The thing that differentiates the voters in our party from the current Republicans of the moment: we can acknowledge the flaws in our candidates, we push our candidates to vote in our interests, rather than bending to the party line that the candidate TELLS US to swallow. Our party still has the ability to hold our politicians accountable, unlike the Republicans who seem willing to re-educate themselves and change reality itself to keep them in their bubble. I wonder if they've begun taking anti-windmill-cancer supplements yet...
Regardless, I'm sure Alex Jones' has started selling them.
3
Consider this, Mr. Blow: Trump won Michigan in 2016 by a relative hair, some 12,000 votes. For the election in 2012, black voters turned out in sizable numbers, and I would safely assume the vast majority voted for Obama. These same votes were absent in 2016, with a fraction of the number of black voters turning out to vote, period. If you assume that most of those voters would have elected Hillary instead, Trump might not be President today (assuming as well that he would have lost Penn and Wisconsin). So, setting Bloomberg up for another Hillary-like result in the black community, you only clear the way for Mr. Trump again. Think about that. Think about that for a long time.
12
My wife is bi-racial, so I suppose my child is, too. I support stop and frisk, as does my wife. Why? Because it gets guns and gun wielders off the streets.
The data show that the stops and the consequent arrests of blacks and Hispanics were actually lower than the percentage of violent crimes committed by these groups. If anything, this suggests that the policy was bigoted against whites and Asians. Of course, you will not hear that in this column.
It bothers me deeply that columnists like Mr. Blow rather seek to win a theoretical argument than save the lives of people of color. Stop and frisk saved more lives than any journalist promulgating his opinions from a soap box. Ten fold.
365
@Mark Couldn't agree with you more. You state the statistics that matter. Bloomberg and Klobuchar are the only current Democratic Presidential candidates with potential to defeat Trump in November. Those like Mr. Blow, who disqualify Bloomberg because of some politically incorrect comments he made several years ago, do so at their own peril.
49
@Mark
The statistics show that the weapons/drugs seized in Stop and Frisk were MASSIVELY found on the white citizens they stopped, not the minorities.
Second, even though it was the white citizens who proportionately were found with the most weapons, minorities made up 85% of the stops.
No offense, but you and your wife are basing your decision off feelings, not actual statistics or fact borne out of the programs operation...
73
@Mark ...here's the pattern. 1st, our politics are legally dominated by big money interests. The high profit NRA lobby for gun makers and their dependent politicians, promote guns for all everywhere as part of 'American Freedom From Big Govt'.
So to keep gun profits high, guns are allowed to circulate freely--as a norm in our society. This leads to increased crime, and public slaughter of innocent citizens by deranged, paranoid hate filled people who have easy access. They see the role models on TV of constant shootings. They finally take do it themselves.
The answer to this appalling public violence isn't police occupation of minority neighborhoods. That just extends and intensifies our irrational policy toward guns.
And in most NYC police stops, no crime or guns were found. See ACLU article. The minority citizens were just going about their daily business, walking around, going to school, work etc. The cops often got 'em as they came off their subway or bus commute, as one columnist witnessed.
What will save lives are sensible gun laws, as most other democracies have, not police occupation of neighborhoods, meeting quotas and interfering in citizens' 4th Amendment rights---as the judge ruled in striking down Bloomie's stop and frisk policy.
27
Mr. Blow is usually on, but not this time. I would vote for a multi-trillionaire Tasmanian Devil to get Trump out of office. He and the GOP are the first truly fascist regime in America, and they are destroying our very Constitution--as a strategy.
Bloomberg is far from pure, but he's not a fascist out to destroy the rule of law in the U.S. Criticize him roundly, if he becomes president. For now, please don't paint him as the very Devil. We need him to get the demagogue who is now working daily to become a dictator out of the Oval Office. If Trump gets a second term, stop-and-frisk will be history. Stop-and-arrest people of all races will be take over as the policy of the U.S. government. All those who don't bow to Trump will be discriminated against.
12
Stop-and-Frisk was not a good policy, but at least Bloomberg acknowledged the error and apologized - something few, if any, politicians seem to be capable of doing, and certainly well, well beyond the maturity level of our current POTUS.
If we are waiting for a perfect person to run for office we are in for a very long wait - what we need is a functioning, mature, rational adult - that we might get a smart one with guts, determination, and a track record of good and noble achievements would be a bonus.
However, that the Trump Administration and Re-election committee are tangibly fearful of Bloomberg's run for office is enough for me. His policies may or may not be any better or worse than anyone else's, but at least he's highly experienced in running complex agencies at a national and international level, is reasonably honest, and is highly intelligent - an easy and somewhat inarguable counter to Trump - and half of Congress.
And that he could easily and unquestionably put to rest the prattling and posturing of Trump during the general election is precisely why the Trump campaign is so worried about Bloombergs presence.
Mr. Bloomberg, please 'floor it'. We need a stern, mature, no-nonsense adult in this race.
7
Mr. Blow
Your article is misleading.
Stop and Frisk was a program in response to a need.
It was not perfect but it was not
created without reason. There was a 48% drop in crime the city experienced during his time in office.
9
Thank you Charles for writing this.
I am disgusted that the DNC bent the rules to allow Bloomberg to join the debate, though I hope other candidates voice these concerns.
As a white person, I will not vote for a candidate who has this kind of record. An apology is not enough. It's not up to me, anyway to accept such an apology. It's up to the thousands of people who were bullied, arrested, and some who even died in prison without any charges being brought against them.
I can say this: This is NOT the kind of candidate we need representing the Democratic Party.
I'm sure there are plenty of things about Bloomberg that are positive, but it doesn't erase the impact of these actions on thousands of innocent people.
3
So, sober thinking people can only conclude that you want Trump to get a second term. That's what will happen if Bernie, Elizabeth, or any other far-left candidate gets the nomination. Bloomberg has apologized for his mistake. Can't we take him at his word? Isn't the goal now to beat Trump? Or am I missing something?
632
@Dennis Herzog
Wanting single-payer healthcare is supposed to be "far-left" now? Virtually every western country sans America has single-payer healthcare. The conservative parties in places like Ireland and Germany (who ironically align more with the Democrats) support maintaining the single-payer option. Bernie's positions would be considered pretty tame and mainstream anywhere else in the world but America is so slanted to the right that it's bizarrely deemed too "extreme." The Democrats are more or less a right-wing conservative party while the Republicans are a far-right reactionary party. Bloomberg definitely represents the right wing of the Democrats as well as establishment politics in general. Donny came to power by riding a wave of anti-establishment discontent and the Democrats will be conceding victory to him if they nominate a weak, uninspiring establishment type like Bloomberg.
22
@Dennis Herzog You're missing a lot in my opinion.
Firstly may I say that I hope that if Bernie or Elizabeth get the nomination that they will get your vote. They are only "far-left" according to American lights. They would be regarded as pretty standard politicians of the progressive side of politics just about anywhere else in the wealthy democratic world. The thing is though, if they were politicians in Canada or here in Australia their policies platforms would be a lot smaller, because most of what they are campaigning to make law in the US is already law there and here.
In contrast, no way would Michael be running to try to be the head of government there or here on the progressive side of politics. He'd try to do so on the conservative side. So why isn't Michael trying to unseat Donald as a Republican? Answer: because he knows he would have no chance of doing so. He's a Republican using the Democratic Party.
If he wins the nomination Donald will still pillory him and he will get hardly any votes from people inclined to vote for Donald. If he becomes president and does not do things of which they and people like them approve and which improve their lives, he will alienate them from the Democratic Party even further. His presidency could lead to someone far worse than Donald winning the Republican nomination and becoming the president in 2024 or 2028.
That could mean the US becoming even less like the rest of the democratic world or even not a democracy at all.
18
Yes, you are missing multiple things. First off, you assume you can predict the future and know who will or won't beat Trump (hubris). Second, you forget that the end goal of our politics is not defeating a single person or party but rather improving people's lives.
14
Meanwhile almost all of my white friends smoke pot, and have for years, and have never been arrested.
I live in an African American neighborhood in Philadelphia for over 20 years now. I am Caucasian Once this is known about this candidate, I can not see my friends, many like family, voting for him.
That being said, my neighbors, bc they are pro life, vote for Trump. It is a bizarre world when you have to explain to your elderly black friends why they shouldn’t vote for Trump. Pro lifers are hard to convince- it is the one thing they care about over every other.
I don’t know about Bloomberg - in an ideal world, we would not have to choose him over Trump to try to keep our democracy. But if it comes to that - that’s who I will vote for if he is the front runner.
It is not forgivable to defend stop and frisk for years then apologize when running for president. The problem is that if Trump is elected, what hope is there for any kind of racial justice? What hope is there for the refugee toddlers, kids and infants locked up ? What chance is there in stopping right wing white supremacy?
It is a terrifying reality.
1
Trump and his Russian accomplices will mop the floor with any other candidate other than Bloomberg.
9
Bravo Charles Blow!
Despite all the $350 million of paid flacking for Bloomberg, whose racist attitudes and behavior are well documented by you and many others, you have the courage to speak the truth.
It is disgusting to me that so many so-called "Democrats" are willing to overlook and even condone the violation of the bodies of young black and Hispanic men and boys by armed police officers. Imagine that happening to your son, nicely comfortable white people, of whom I am one. Do all of you who dismiss these physical assaults on fellow human beings have no consciences at all?
Bloomberg is nothing more than a more "polite" version of Donald Trump. They have both displayed their racism openly for many years. Now, to smooth things over, Bloomberg apologizes. Do you honestly believe he has had a change of heart? Or does he just see a golden opportunity to seize more power as President of the United States?
Use your heads, and your hearts!
5
Bloomberg is running because he is a patriot. He needs this like a hole in head. How many of us, if we were 77 years old, wouldn’t rather spend the time on a yacht with friends and family in some of the most beautiful places on earth. Bloomberg, like Gates, and Langone, built an incredible company from scratch. The fact that he is willing to lend his talent and put in the incredible energy needed to run and then govern should be greatly respected.
7
Yes, children can be murderers too.
What if your child was stopped and frisked regularly- ?
We are no longer going to have a country if Trump isn’t stopped. Anyone who isn’t white will be endangered. And the elderly and poor will be left to die.
6
Bloomberg's racism and class bias is and should be disqualifying. The American President is both head of the executive branch and symbolic head of the nation. In both capacities the President must be trusted as a leader for all and by Americans for otherwise how can he or she presume to speak in the name of the American people? A biased President is a contradiction in terms. For the past three years many Democrats have complained of Trump supporters being, if not themselves racist or misogynist or class biased, then at a minimum willing to overlook Trump's flagrant racism and bias. Are these same Democrats now going to themselves engage in this same hypocrisy and overlook Bloomberg's racism and class bias? Stop and frisk didn't just target blacks and latinxs - it targeted poor and middle class blacks and latinxs. Nobody was tossing black NBA stars or investment bankers to the pavement for walking while black.
4
I want to puke. I guess the point is to cannibalize each other looking for the candidate who lives up to every politically correct belief of every interest group in the party. Forget about beating Trump. It's our way or no way. Let's undermine party unity. Let's alienate everyone who dares have a belief different than ours. Let's stoke homophobia via a whisper campaign. Let's minimize the achievements of the remaining candidates by crying about racial diversity when the candidates dropping out don't get the money or number of supporters to sustain a campaign. Better to meet some unattainable perfection than save our country from a dictator?
5
Democrats turning to Michael Bloomberg . . . now that's funny.
2
Such a misguided perspective. So Mayor Bloomberg did 100 positive things as Mayor but because he had one policy you don't agree with, you are going to trash his good name?
Such a foolish point of view.
Remember this when we are stuck with President Trump for four more years. Do you not see the bigger picture?
10
I believe In stopping Trump first and foremost but this is not “one little thing” this kind of policy and policing leads to a lot of mistaken homicides by police or vigilantes across America.
Hello Zimmerman and The innocent Trayvon Martin. How about Sandra Bland?
This is no small issue and it’s degrading to call it that after the effects of this kind of policing is tragic all over this nation.
So what we go back to different policies for different shades of skin?
This is a huge issue.
2
Separating babies and children from their parents is worse.
Berating a disabled person is worse.
Lying 50 Times a day is worse.
Let’s face it, I could keep typing about all horrible and illegal acts trump and his administration does on a daily basis. There is nothing Bloomberg has done that is worse than trump.
Bloomberg can beat trump, he has my vote.
10
Thank you, Mr. Blow. Now, please request a meeting to discuss the facts about Bloomberg with the editors of your newspaper because they are promoting Bloomberg as a savior. Please, also ask to appear as a guest on MSNBC and CNN so you can talk about Bloomberg's racist actions as mayor to balance out their obsessive positive spin about his campaign. While you are at it, don't forget to mention how Bloomberg famously turned his nose up at families of relatively modest means, telling them that if they couldn't afford private school perhaps they should move out of NYC.
This guy is bad news all the way: a classic Republican in sheep's clothing. He's a fraud with no chance to beat Trump.
4
Well, Charles, it's only been three months since you said, "If you support Bloomberg, I want nothing to do with you. Nothing!"
I won't turn my back on a man who, imho, will be a great president. And I won't disagree with African Americans like Joy Ann Reid, Michael Steele (who would be a great running mate for Bloomberg). They, like many Americans, black and white, are turning to Bloomberg and liking what they see.
I think you should back down, accept his apology, and admit that he's the only Democrat who can dislodge the racist Trump from the White House.
7
Doesn't it seem ironic that Bloomberg's racist policy would probably give him an opportunity to pull in some voters from the cult side?
2
Blow is 100% right.
For all the non black / brown folks promoting Bloomberg and casually citing what is likely an insincere apology from a vile racist like Bloomberg, you clearly do not appreciate the trauma of stop and frisk and the damage it did to our community. That lack of empathy or understanding is precisely the problem that blinds you from seeing the disaster that will happen if Bloomberg wins the primary.
If you really cared about winning against Trump, you would put your support behind any of the other Dem candidates. If you claim that you want Bloomberg for his vast resources, that point is moot because he has already pledged to support whoever is the Dem nominee.
So stop this callous, shortsighted push for a monster like Bloomberg, who has demonstrated a belief in this destructive racist policy that has withstood numerous challenges. This isn't a one-issue objection, this is evidence of a sociopathic worldview when it comes to minorities that is part of him no matter how many times he puts out an insincere apology.
Mark my words, nominate Bloomberg, and Trump will win a second term. If you're so thirsty for a billionaire, go prop up Tom Steyer.
3
MIchael Bloomberg has made his fortune by taking credit for other people's insight, courage, and strength of character.
Michael Bloomberg would still be a corporate engineer with apocket protector working overtime in the back office.....it he didnt use Wall Street Insider tips to make investments.
He's a inside trader! Period. He uses inside information for personal gain.
Even as Mayor of NYC, Bloomberg accomplished very little except to take credit for what Rudy Giuliani accomplished.
As soon as he realized that crowing about "stop and frisk" was going to hurt his chances of becoming President,,,,,he dropped the whole mess back into Rudy's lap!
Bloomberg, Wall Street Inside Trader, is a Fraud. A Fake. A Media Huckster no different than Donald Trump.
3
You don't have to call him a racist, just call him someone who has done something that is so offensive and destructive that no apology can touch the memory of that repeated cruelty and indifference. Don't say he's an authoritarian, vindictive, lacking empathy, narcissistic with a huge delusion of grandeur. After all, he plants trees, gives to charity, doesn't want you drinking oversize sodas.
2
What I read most in the op-eds about every Democratic candidate is why she shouldn't vote for x, or y, or z, because they said this or that, or took money from a billionaire. For ever candidate, there are 5 writers trying to take them down, until we're left with nobody worth voting for (if you listen to them). These are not normal times. Trump is not a normal human being. Unless you can show me that Bloomberg, or any Democratic candidate, has committed a tenth of the horrible, horrible things that Trump does daily, then maybe just, I don't know, shut up and write something constructive. I'm sick of it. They're all human, they all made mistakes, but can you stay that any of them are even close to the cancer that is Trump and his criminal enterprise?
3
Well, it only took Charles two articles to shift from “if you vote for Bloomberg I want NOTHING to do with you. Nothing!” To... “I worry about our chances vs trump”. Seems like an evolution to me. Maybe in a couple of months he’ll come around further.
Polling consistently shows that African American's #1 priority is to defeat Mr. Trump (not a "revolution"). Now that Mr. Biden has faded, they are migrating to the next most likely candidate who can win...Mike Bloomberg.
*Black Democratic voters, in last pre-Iowa Quinnipiac poll
Biden - 49%
Sanders - 17%
Bloomberg - 7%
*Black voters, in Monday's post-Iowa poll
Biden - 27%
Sanders - 19%
Bloomberg - 22%
2
This is why we won’t win. No one is “good enough” cool Charles. Who’s your pick?
Thank you. The centrist stampede towards pushing a racist Republican billionaire as candidate against that other racist Republican billionaire(?) is truly disgusting.
4
GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH. Stop and Frisk had a 90% NOTHING RATE. 90% of the people who were stopped for being black or brown didn't even have as much as a weed seed to pin a charge on! That said, I will vote for Bloomberg if I have to. But between anti-Semitism from one quarter twinned with his half-hearted appreciation for the gravity of his actions, I fear he'll lose. Many African Americans might just stay home and Trump will win.
1
It's so refreshing to finally read an Opinion piece in the NY Times that gives the lie to Mike Bloomberg's terrible stop-and-frisk policy reflecting his so-called "data driven" approach as Mayor. Unsurprisingly, however, this piece written by Charles Blow, who, unlike Brooks, Douthat, Friedman, or Stephens, isn't a Republican masquerading as a moderate, dispensing nonsensical election advice to Democrats (everybody but Friedman).
Nominating and electing a not-quite-as-racist-as-Trump billionaire is not a sustainable way for the Democratic Party to move forward in 2020.
2
1975 thru 1993 (Dinkins last year as mayor) - over one million crimes committed annually.
1994 (Giuliani & Bloomberg 20 years) thru 2018 sharply declined to low of 350,000.
Amazing accomplishment
2
Amy, Amy, Amy!!!! I love her and she's our gal. She's not a VP, she is a POTUS. She'll appoint decent patriotic Americans in her Cabinet and She'll Get Things Done!!.
Victimization! Moral panic! Politically Correct-Itis! Identity Politics!
Victims Unite! Make Sure Trump Gets Elected Again! Let's Do This!
1
btw - stop and frisk was wrong, but no one can doubt the city was much safer under Mike then Dinkins or any earlier mayor. So who would you rather credit, Mike? or Rudy the criminal?
Give it a rest. Crime was rampant - he tried something. It didn't work, it was racist in how it was administered, he should have stopped it sooner.
He has now stated it was wrong and apologized. He did a lot of good for NYC, and that should be noted. He is a fact based kind of guy and his quest for action can sometimes blind him. But I don;t think he demonstrates the animus and focus on self (at the expense of others) that Trump shows. At this point, I am not a supporter of Bloomberg. However, we need to be careful about labeling people like this: that is what Trump does.
Is there nothing that Bloomberg can do to erase or mitigate his ill advised "stop and frisk" policy in the minds of some or do we just cancel him and move on? Those looking for a potentially perfect candidate should perhaps turn to scripture rather than politics. When the house is aflame one is not inclined to run a background check on the firefighters who arrive to douse the flames.
6
@Pat
if Bloomberg didnt do that drastic stop and frisk, then there would be nothing against him.
read his bio. tremendous philanthropist.
life long democrat (except when he ran for NYC mayor).
pro environment
pro choice
pro gun controls
AND HE GAVE $100 million dollars to FLIP THE HOUSE in 2018......
3
@East Coast read his bio, Wikipedia. It’s unbelievable what has done, philanthropic beyond your dreams.
I've no great love for Bloomberg, but I've a lot less for Trump and where he's taking this country. Like it or not, he's probably the only one at this point who can take on Trump. So it's a choice: another 4 years of Trump, or the possibility of sending the guy packing. In the end, a country will get the politicians it deserves.
6
When someone does bad things in the past, and changes his mind and apologizes for them, he is still a bad person. When someone has done good things in the past and makes a mistake now, he is a bad person. It's almost as if we want to see the worst in people, but that can't be the case, can it?
5
His apology just happened . He didn’t apologize for years but defended this policy- even when it was not the reason for the reduction in violence.
I see how NYC has changed since I was a kid- my other huge Bloomberg complaint is that the neighborhoods where I grew up in NYC are no longer as diverse- class division and segregation is worse. The haves and have nots do not intermingle . Sure nyc is safer but what happened to integration of races and incomes ?
2
Here again the Democratic leaning media and Bernie Bros will absolutely launch Trump in to another four years in office. Fine you don't want Bloomberg, do you really imagine that Pete, Bernie, Amy or Kolbuchar will captivate not only independents but the cross over conservative we are gonna need to win? No, they won't and Trump is victorious. Hang on to your principles, they will be all you have left after another four years.
4
Charles, can I make a suggestion?
Go get some of that Bloomberg money. It's a win-win for you.
You want to get rid of Trump. Bloomberg is your answer.
So in the meantime, get some of that Bloomberg money and take your family out to a nice dinner.
2
I thought the areas that had the highest stop and frisk rate occurred were the areas where the highest crime rate occurred. But what I don't know is if it effectively lowered the crime rate. Does Mr. Blow really think that Bloomberg carried out the practice biased on race rather than crime rate? I'm not a big Bloomberg fan but I don't see him as a racist.
7
Bloomberg should never have apologized for Stop and Frisk.
He sent cops into the neighborhoods with the most crime, in an attempt to save black lives (the first occurrence of actual "Black Lives Matter").
We have seen other New York City mayors resist sending police into "tough" neighborhoods, with the result that crime increased. Then Mr. Blow would complain that the mayor was ignoring black constituents.
Mr Bloomberg ought to say, "I had the best of intentions, and in fact the results were quite good. If I offended anyone or if there is a better way to do this, I am happy to take additional input. Perhaps Mr. Blow of the NYTimes would like to offer suggestions on how to reduce crime while working better with the Black community".
Similarly, Mr. Bloomberg is quite right that the financial crisis was a result of banks giving out loans to people who should never have qualified. The Clinton Administration, in its zeal to placate minority activists, twisted the banks' arms to lower lending standards. The worst part of the financial crisis was hearing people who were going into foreclosure say that they didn't understand the papers that they had signed.
If people want to be treated as adults, they need to act like adults. When you accept a check for $100K and promise to pay it back, you need to understand the conditions before you sign.
9
@G
The BUSH administration did more to lower banking underwriting standards. Not Clinton.
I worked in mortgage risk policy for the past 30 years.
1
Stop and frisk was not the reason crime reduced- studies showed.
Now you’re throwing the financial crisis in here.
So when the Wall Street financiers and manipulators walked off with 100k of my father’s retirement, did they earn it? Did they work the double time my father did while I was growing up.
And all the guys in their big yachts that were bought after the financial crisis, did they earn that money fairly? My father said- “ all these people are losing everything but there is no shortage of new yachts being launched”.
Who are the real crooks?
This appalling record will ensure Bloomberg never ever makes it to the WH. And thank God for that.
90% of folks, humiliatingly strip searched on the street were completely innocent!
1
Charles Blow, you’re right. And you’re wrong.
In purely moral life — the often-elusive life we all crave — there are absolutes. In real life — the everyday life of relativism we cannot entirely escape — there is context.
One (of many) contrasts between Bloomberg and Trump — two New York billionaires noted for their aurtocratic tendencies — is that Bloomberg has admitted his mistake with stop-and-frisk, and apologized for it. Trump has never admitted any fault or apologized for anything. Sexual assaults. Kids in cages. Constant lies and hate-mongering. Perversion of the rule of law. Abuse of power.
This may turn out to be the context of the 2020 presidential race — a face-off between two strongmen. It’s not ideal, God knows. But at this point in the most perilous election process imaginable, please leave room in your thinking for the imperative: Vote Blue No Matter Who.
2
Bloomberg is a study in contradictions. He's been in both parties (although an NYC Republican is far different than a standard Republican; people forget Trump was recently a NYC Democrat for eight years). He oversaw some positive changes in NYC and some negatives as well.
He has a few things going for him. He's a successful executive, which is probably important in running the executive branch. He has money to spare. He accomplishes what he sets out to accomplish. He can out-Trump Trump at most everything except being a crass blabbermouth.
Is he a racist? Honestly, who knows. He's probably a cutthroat CEO by nature and didn't care about collateral damage during the stop and frisk years.
Does this disqualify him from being president? Maybe to Mr. Blow. Not to me. I didn't like stop and frisk, and I'm strongly sympathetic to the interests represented by this column, but I'm not for burning down the nation to prove a point. Trump is a stark example of how horrible iconoclasm is as an operating strategy.
4
Is it likely? conceivable? that should Bloomberg become president he will proceed to institute "stop & frisk" on a federal scale...or, for that matter, other 'programs' designed with malicious intent to attack the well-being/full citizenship of people of colour (as trump/republicans are wont to do). If the answer is no and, assuming Bloomberg's policy platform (isn't this important??) is sufficiently in line with Democratic ideals, desires, wishes, goals, why bother to attack him on 'stop & frisk".....he's apologized....he can't turn back time. It seems "everybody knows" that Bloomberg instituted the policy: if you feel the true rotten effects of 'stop & frisk" are insufficiently known throughout the Country then focus on that in an effort to avoid it happening again. I fail to understand the value in undercutting Bloomberg using this issue.
2
Shame on the author for bringing this up. Did you see what Trump is doing? Focus your energy on Trump not Mike.
9
In this column, I think you are far too harsh, unforgiving, and most importantly, very myopic. Donald Trump poses an imminent threat to our Democracy the likes of which we have not seen since the Civil War. It is time to support a strong candidate who can stand up to the autocrat in the White House and win the election.
Mike Bloomberg has apologized for his actions. He not only is on the correct side on all the major issues -- income inequality, climate change, women's rights, gun control, etc., but also is the only Democratic candidate who stands a chance of defeating Trump. If you compare Mr. Bloomberg's transgressions to another moderate like Senator Klobachar, his errors were far less severe. Plus he has apologized where I don't think she has for turning a blind eye to the possible wrongful conviction of Myon Burrell and other issues of injustice involving young African American males.
At a time when it is crucial to unite all Democratic voters and also garner independent support to defeat Trump, I think your column is harmful and destructive.
6
Trump has an actual track record of racist behaviors, dating back to discriminatory renting practices, Central Park 5 campaign and not backing down even after the accused were exonerated, birtherism, Charlottesville. Is it any coincidence that avowed racists are trump supporters? Bloomberg has done much to help minorities. If Black voters want 4 more years of trump, and Bloomberg is his opponent, they can just stay home.
4
How can NYT have two conflicting articles. Friedman suggested Bloomberg as the best candidate in Paging for Bloomberg but this article suggests otherwise
Freedom?.
Great column. The hypocrisy of establishment blacks rallying around Bloomberg is worthy of Republicans totally betraying their supposed “conservative” principles with Trump. How come BLM has gone totally silent on Bloomberg, too—exactly like the total hypocrisy of Evangelicals about Trump’s grotesquely anti-Christian immorality. Cynical much? Blacks leaders are clearly as easily bought as white Evangelical ones.
3
The writer can only see one issue - race relations - in this candidate, which is irresponsible. The writer has used several columns to disparage Mr. Bloomberg without considering his entire record. With a voice as large as the editorial page of the New York Times that is also irresponsible. If Mr. Bloomberg's record is looked at in aggregate he was probably the best mayor New York has had - a consummate professional. Mr. Blow ought to be more of a professional himself.
5
The writer can only see one issue - race relations - in this candidate, which is irresponsible. The writer has used several columns to disparage Mr. Bloomberg without considering his entire record. With a voice as large as the editorial page of the New York Times that is also irresponsible. If Mr. Bloomberg's record is looked at in aggregate he was probably the best mayor New York has had - a consummate professional. Mr. Blow ought to be more of a professional himself.
3
Mr. Blow doesn’t believe in redemption. If you are not perfect, you may expect only his criticism and his opposition. No settling for second best. No compromise.
So much for wisdom coming with age.
4
So Trump is succeeding to divide & conquer the Democrats. Again. Wonderful.
When we wake up the morning after Election Day & find We’ve got 4 more years of kids locked in cages at our borders & no health insurance we can thank Bernie & Charles Blow.
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"Do you want four more years of Trmp?" is a scare tactic. Are we to be scared, or are we to have courage and trust in ourselves?
No more billionaires, not even a real one.
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Mr Blow, what sorts of guarantees would you require from Mr Bloomberg in order to vote for him without pinching your nose?
Past is horrible but what could be the lesson learned and future possibility ?
Like Trump, Bloomberg thinks his money makes him presidential when in reality he's just arrogant.
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I have totally given up on -- no, not Michael Bloomberg -- Charles Blow because of his earlier column on this subject that gave no quarter to either his readers or Bloomberg himself!
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I had a young black man working for me in those years. His name was Derrick. He would meet me at the warehouse and we would load up the truck for a day working on film sets.
One morning, before a massive work day, he was supposed to meet me at 2:30a.m. The clock moved on, no Derrick. I became angrier and angrier.. my other worker had managed to get there.. and this was out of character for Derrick.
When he finally showed up hours later, he refused to tell me what happened to cause the delay. He didn't want to talk about it.
It was not until the end of the day, when we were sitting and waiting to leave that explained.
He had been walking to the subway, and came across a line-up of 8-10 young black men, held against a wall by police. The cops saw him, and said "you! up against the wall". Derrick argued that he was on his way to work, and did not know any of the people being held. They did not believe he would be going to work at the hour, and put him against the wall and held him there...making him late and rightfully upset, and left me angry not knowing.
I don't know how he held his composure throughout the day, after such a scary and humiliating experience before he even got to the train. But his composure impressed me greatly.
Poor Derrick died of gun violence 2 years later, trying to buy a car. It was not his first time being a victim of violence, and as a sweet tender hearted man, he deserved so much better.
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Mr. Blow, you are a very talented writer and I read most of your columns but you are fooling yourself and hurting America by your one cause denunciation of Mike Bloomberg.
I lived in New York when he was mayor and the city became a far better place than it was when he took it over from Rudy Giuliani in 2002.
Crime decreased, the parks turned green, the subways were a means of transportation, not a hang out for drunks, druggies and criminals.
Stop and Frisk was over the top. He has apologized. He has never, to my knowledge been called a liar like the current POTUS so I accept that apology.
His good deeds and charitable work are laughed at by the right wing of the Republican party.
Despite the polls, Bernie Sanders would be blown away by the party of Trump, McConnell, Barr and Giuliani.
I am late coming to Bloomberg and still hold out a hope that Amy will rise to the top. But I have to believe that Bloomberg would be able to get more done and would stand a great chance of holding the House and winning the Senate than anyone else the Democrats might choose.
Make a list of all the good things that happened when he was Mayor and before and after he was and put them on one side of a scale. Put Stop and Frisk on the other side.
“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 7:8, viz
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